Xavier Returns to Cintas Center for Pivotal Battles with Butler and UConn

CINCINNATI, OH - Xavier prepares for an exciting weekend of action as they take on two of the top teams in the BIG EAST. The matches are slated to begin on Friday at 6:00 pm ET against Butler, and Saturday at 4:00 pm ET against Connecticut live from Cintas Center.

The Musketeers are 11-9 (5-5 BIG EAST), while Butler is 12-11 (6-4 BIG EAST) and Connecticut is 15-7 (7-3 BIG EAST).

XAVIER SCHEDULE

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (10-11) vs BUTLER BULLDOGS (12-11)
Match Info - Friday, October 29 - 6:00 p.m. ET - Cintas Center
Live Stats - http://bit.ly/2BQZu3r
Watch Live ($) - https://bit.ly/3mlytKF

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (10-11) vs UCONN HUSKIES (15-7)
Match Info - Saturday, October 30 - 4:00 p.m. ET - Cintas Center
Live Stats - http://bit.ly/2BQZu3r
Watch Live ($) - https://bit.ly/2ZpcgT7

ABOUT BUTLER

2021 (Spring) Record: 4-10 (1-7 BIG EAST)
2021 (Fall) Record: 12-11 (6-4 BIG EAST)
Series History: Xavier leads 21-16
Last Meeting: Xavier 3, Butler 1 (March 20, 2021 - Cincinnati, OH)

NOTABLES
• This will be the 38th meeting between Xavier and Butler, with the Musketeers having the all-time edge 21-16. However, the results have been back and forth as of late, as the teams have traded season series sweeps for the last six years.
• The Bulldogs are 12-11 this fall, having won their last 3 matches in a combined 10 sets. Their nonconference schedule is highlighted by three matches against Power 5 teams, including a win at PAC 12's California.
• Butler was picked to finish 9th in the BIG EAST, with Melody Davidson being named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. They currently sit 4th, a game ahead of Xavier.
• Sharon Clark is in her 22nd season as coach of Butler. She is the program's all-time wins leader, capturing 12 winning seasons and seven 20-win seasons. She also made the NCAA Tournament in 2010.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT

2021 (Spring) Record: 4-7 (4-4 BIG EAST)
2021 (Fall) Record: 15-7 (7-3 BIG EAST)
Series History: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A

NOTABLES
• Saturday marks the first meeting between UConn and Xavier following the Huskies' recent addition to the BIG EAST.
• The Huskies are 15-7 this fall and 7-3 in the BIG EAST, with two losses coming against Marquette. Their nonconference schedule included eight wins with a sweep of the Dog Pound Challenge in Mid-September.
• Connecticut was voted to finish 6th in the conference, but currently sits in 3rd place behind Marquette and Creighton. Caylee Parker was a Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree.
• Ellen Herman-Kimball is in her third season as head coach of UConn, and in her eighth season with the program. She was an assistant coach before being named interim head coach, and then was named head coach in February 2019.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST HONORS

• Junior Carrigan O'Reilly was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Aug. 8.

• O'Reilly ranked second in the BIG EAST in assists per set (10.69) last season, while ranking 30th in the NCAA. The All-BIG EAST performer recorded 631 total assists to rank 73rd in the NCAA. She added 69 kills, seven aces, 146 digs and 29 blocks.

• The Westerville, Ohio, native also earned AVCA All-East Region Honorable Mention Team honors.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Xavier has played all of their non-conference matches and competed in three tournaments. The Musketeers opened the season at the Charlotte Tournament on Aug. 27-28, taking on South Carolina State, Charlotte and Colorado. Then Xavier traveled to the Loyola Tournament on Sept. 3-4, taking on SIUE, Eastern Kentucky and Loyola. After facing Lipscomb and Louisville, the Musketeers went up against in-state foes Cincinnati, Miami and Dayton.

• The Musketeers hosted the Xavier Tournament on Sept. 10-11. Three of the four teams competing in the tournament participated in the NCAA Tournament last spring: Louisville, Purdue and Lipscomb. Purdue finished the year ranked No. 7 in the AVCA Top-25 Poll, while Louisville ranked 11th.

• Xavier took on crosstown rival Cincinnati on Sept. 16 at Fifth Third Arena. The two teams split the two-match series last year with the road team winning each match.

• The Musketeers played teams from 10 different conferences during non-conference action (ACC, MEAC, C-USA, Pac-12, OVC, A-SUN, MVC, MAC, AAC, A-10). Xavier faced two new opponents for the first time in program history in SIUE and Loyola.

• Xavier opened its 18-match BIG EAST schedule on Friday, Sept. 24 with a win against Providence.

• Xavier closes its BIG EAST schedule with back-to-back road matches at UConn (Nov. 19) and Butler (Nov. 21).

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• The Musketeers posted a 7-7 (3-3 BIG EAST) record during the COVID-19 shortened spring 2021 season. Xavier had wins over rival Cincinnati, Big 12 member Kansas and AVCA Top-50 team UIC.

• Xavier returns AVCA All-East Region Team member, Carrigan O'Reilly. The junior setter picked up honorable mention team honors, becoming the first Musketeer to earn the honors since Sofia Peterson and Abbey Bessler in 2016.

• O'Reilly also earned All-BIG EAST honors. She averaged 10.71 assists per set, ranking second in the BIG EAST and 28th in the NCAA. She added 69 kills, 29 blocks, 146 digs and seven aces. The Westerville, Ohio, native had seven double-doubles and one triple-double.

• The Musketeers also return All-BIG EAST honoree and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Delaney Hogan. She was the first Musketeer to earn "Freshman of the Year" honors since Aubree Smith picked up the accolades in 2011 (Atlantic-10 Conference). She was also the first Xavier player to earn a major award from the BIG EAST since Abbey Bessler in 2015 (BIG EAST Player of the Year).

• Hogan led the BIG EAST in hitting percentage this season (.356), while ranking 100th in the NCAA. The middle blocker also led the Musketeers in total kills (131) and total blocks (45) this season. She averaged 2.38 k/s and 0.82 b/s and had 10 or more kills in eight matches.

• Xavier only graduated one player in Lauren Hanlon. All told, the Musketeers return 13 letterwinners and welcome four newcomers to the roster.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST HONOREES

Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year
Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, Sr., OH

Preseason All-BIG EAST
(listed alphabetically by institution, then last name)

Melody Davidson, Butler, R-Sr., MB
Caylee Parker, Connecticut, Sr., OH
Naomi Hickman, Creighton, Sr., MB
Jaela Zimmerman, Creighton, Sr., OH^
Savannah Rennie, Marquette, Gr., MB^
Taylor Wolf, Marquette, Gr., RS/S^
Allison Barber, Providence, Gr., S
Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, Sr., OH^
Rachele Rastelli, St. John's, Sr., RS
Tsvetelina Ilieva, Seton Hall, So. OH
Averi Salvador, Villanova, Gr., L/DS
Carrigan O'Reilly, Xavier, Jr., S/RS

^ denotes unanimous selection

CURRENT BIG EAST STANDINGS

1.	Marquette	9-1
2.	Creighton	8-2
3.	UConn	7-3
4.	Butler	6-4
5.	Xavier	5-5
6.	DePaul	5-5
7.	Villanova	4-6
8.	St. John's	4-6
9.	Seton Hall	3-7
10.	Providence	3-7
11.	Georgetown	1-9

UP NEXT

• Following this weekend's action, Xavier will hit the road to rematch No.24 Creighton and Providence.

Schedule

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