Volleyball heads to DePaul for BIG EAST Opener

Wednesday, September 25

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

DePaul

Volleyball heads to DePaul for BIG EAST Opener

09.24.19 | Volleyball

Xavier travels to Chicago to begin conference action

By: By Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletics Communications

Chicago, Ill. – Volleyball begins BIG EAST play with a trip to DePaul on Wednesday. First serve is set for 7:00pm ET/ 6:00pm CT. This will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the two schools, with Xavier holding a 17-5 record against the Blue Demons. Additionally, the Musketeers have won six of the last seven meetings, and 12 of the last 14.

THE MATCHUP VS DEPAUL

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-7) vs DePaul Blue Demons (8-4)
Match Info - Wednesday, Sep. 25 - 7:00 p.m. ET - McGrath-Phillips Arena
Watch - http://bit.ly/DPU19Stream
Live Stats - http://bit.ly/DPU19Stats

ABOUT DEPAUL

2019 Record: 8-4 (0-0 BIG EAST)
2018 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads 17-5
Last Meeting : XU 3, DPU 1 - 11/9/2018

DEPAUL AT A GLANCE
• DePaul had an incredible start to the season, starting 8-1 with their only blunder coming against Oakland in a neutral-site match. The start included three tournament victories, including a sweep of the DePaul Invitational. However, in hosting the Chicago Cup against other schools in the area, the Blue Demons would lose all three matches as they prepare to face Xavier following the losing streak.
• The Blue Demons are paced by Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Brittany Maxwell, who average 3.74 kills per set. Defensively, the Musketeers will look out for Isabelle Banez, who has recorded 238 digs so far this season, good for 5.17 per set.
• DePaul was picked to finish 7th (out of 10) in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Marie Zidek is entering her second season as head coach for DePaul. Prior to leading the Blue Demons, Zidek was an assistant coach ar the University of San Diego, where she led the team to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances during her four year tenure.

FIRST SERVE

• Xavier enters this weekend with a 3-7 record after picking up two four-set victories at the Utah State Tournament, beating the host and Eastern Michigan after falling to Southern Utah in their regular-season opener. At home, they knocked off William & Mary in between losses to Akron and eventual tournament champions Wright State.

• Two Musketeers won awards on the first weekend of action, as Lauren Hanlon and Ellie Chaffee were name to the All-Tournament team. Additionally, Hanlon was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. In Week two, Moriah Hopkins was named to the All-Tournament team and Jayda Carlton was listed on the BIG EAST Honor Roll. The following week, Lauren Hanlon was named to the All-Tournament Team following her 24-kill performances in two matches at the LUV Invitational.

• Xavier will host Marquette on October 2 at 12:00 p.m. ET in their BIG EAST home opener.

2019 OPPONENT BREAKDOWN

• Xavier will play two teams that finished the year ranked in the AVCA Coaches' Poll: No. 13 Creighton and No. 15 Marquette.

• The Musketeers take on five teams that participated in the 2018 NCAA Tournament (Eastern Michigan, Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and Creighton). Twelve of the Musketeers 20 opponents posted a winning record last year.

• The Musketeers' 20 opponents combined to post a 311-294 last season with a .514 winning percentage.

• Xavier will face teams from nine different conferences this year, including a team from the ACC.

• The Musketeers will face three teams for the first time in program history this fall: Utah State, Southern Utah and William & Mary.

2019 TEAM LEADERS

• Freshman Alyssa Overbeck and MaryAnn O'Toole lead the team in digs so far this season with a combined 237 digs of the team's 429.

• Sophomore Jayda Carlton is the Musketeers' block leader, as she's tallied 32 blocks (1.07 block per set) in eight matches, ranking third in the BIG EAST. She also has three of Xavier's five solo blocks.

• While kills are evenly dispersed throughout Xavier's balanced attack, Redshirt Freshman Lauren Hanlon leads the way with 89 put-aways (3.07 kills per set). Behind her, Moriah Hopkins and Norah Painter chip in with 74 kills and 70 kills respectively.

BIG EAST NOTES

• Xavier opens BIG EAST play on Sept. 25 at DePaul followed by a home match against Marquette on Oct. 2. The Musketeers close conference action at Butler on Nov. 23.

• Xavier has posted a 67-39 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers have advanced to the conference tournament in three of their five seasons in the BIG EAST.

• Marquette will host the 2019 BIG EAST Tournament after it was held at Creighton a year ago.

ABOUT THE TEAM

• Xavier graduated five seniors in Morgan Finn, Meredith Klare, Laura Grossman, Olivia Hart and McKena Estes.

• The Musketeers return eighth letterwinners from last year, including two upperclassmen. Xavier will have one senior on the team this fall.

• Xavier added five newcomers to the 2019 roster in MaryAnn O'Toole, Carrigan O'Reilly, Alyssa Overbeck, Ailsa Watson and Hayley Heitmeyer.

• Xavier returns freshman outside hitter Norah Painter who ranked fourth on the team in total kills (178) last season. The Musketeers also return its leader in total blocks (107) in Jayda Carlton.

UP NEXT

• Xavier will host Marquette on October 2 at 12:00 p.m. ET in their BIG EAST home opener.