Volleyball Hosts Xavier Tournament to Open Home Slate

CINCINNATI - The Xavier volleyball team returns to Cintas Center this weekend for their home opener and the 2025 Xavier Tournament.

IU Indy, Miami (Ohio) and Eastern Kentucky will travel to Cincinnati for the round-robin tournament from Sept. 4-6.

Tournament information

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Xavier Musketeers (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. IU Indy Jaguars (3-0, 0-0 Horizon) - 6:00 p.m.
- Watch (Xavier+)
- Live Stats

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

IU Indy Jaguars (3-0, 0-0 Horizon) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-1, 0-0 ASUN) - 3:00 p.m.
- Live Stats
Xavier Musketeers (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (3-0, 0-0 MAC) - 6:00 p.m.
- Watch (Xavier+)
- Live Stats

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-1, 0-0 ASUN) vs. Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (3-0, 0-0 MAC) - 11:00 a.m.
- Live Stats
Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (3-0, 0-0 MAC) vs. IU Indy Jaguars (3-0, 0-0 Horizon) - 4:30 p.m.
- Live Stats
Xavier Musketeers (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-1, 0-0 ASUN) - 7:00 p.m.
- Watch (Xavier+)
- Live Stats

about the Musketeers

Margo Kemp was named the BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading the league with 1.82 blocks per set. The redshirt sophomore posted a career-high 10 blocks in the win over Murray State last weekend. Kemp also earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team following her standout rookie season for the Musketeers in 2024.
Anna Taylor was named the MVP of the Stacheville Challenge hosted by Austin Peay last weekend. The right side hitter recorded 2.78 kills and 1.44 blocks per set while hitting .440 with no errors in the final two matches. She tallied 12 kills on a .522 clip with a career-high seven blocks against Murray State in final match of the weekend.
Emma Grace and Macy Hatkevich each earned a spot on the Stacheville Challenge All-Tournament Team as well. Grace averaged 2.70 kills and 2.60 digs per set with two double-doubles on the weekend, posting 10 kills and 10 digs against both Austin Peay and Murray State. Hatkevich led the offense in her Musketeer debut, tallying 7.50 assists per set for a .299 team hitting percentage.
Xavier recorded 19 total blocks against Murray State, the most single-match blocks since Sept. 21, 2018, against St. John's.
XU held all opponents at the Stacheville Challenge to a combined .090 hitting percentage. TTU was held to just a .021 clip, the lowest of any opponent since Aug. 27, 2021, when South Carolina State hit -.016.
The Musketeers combined for 12 aces against Murray State, the most in a single match since the 2023 season.

scouting the jaguars

IU Indy is currently 3-0 after sweeping all three matches at the Charleston Southern Tournament last weekend.
Setter Grace Purichia was named the Horizon League Player of the Week after averaged 11.44 assists and 2.33 digs per set in the Jaguars' three wins.
Purichia and Morgan Ostrowski both return for the Jaguars after being named to the 2024 All-League Team. Ostrowski led the team with 82 blocks last season while Purichia dished out 9.76 assists per set.
The Jaguars were picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll after posting a 15-17 (9-9 Horizon) record last year.
Xavier is 4-1 all-time against IU Indy, winning the last four straight match ups. XU defeated IU Indy most recently, 3-0, on Sept. 14, 2013.

scouting the redhawks

Miami (Ohio) went 3-0 in their opening weekend at the Bellarmine Classic, winning all three matches in sweep fashion.
The Redhawks were picked to finish ninth in the MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll after an 8-21 (2-16 MAC) record last season.
Miami returns all four of its 2024 leaders in kills, assists, digs and blocks.
Miami leads the all-time series, 13-5, including a 3-0 win at the NKU Invitational last season.

scouting the colonels

Eastern Kentucky finished 2-1 last weekend at the College of Charleston Classic with wins over Mercer and Charleston and a five-set loss to App State.
The Colonels were picked to finish third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll, coming off of a 21-10 (11-5 ASUN) season in 2024.
Senior Carson Ledford was named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team. The middle blocker averaged 2.09 kills and 0.91 blocks per set last season.
Xavier has won the last eight straight matches against EKU for an 8-6 all-time record. The Musketeers won the most recent contest, 3-0, on Sept. 3, 2021.

preseason big east honors

BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)

Creighton (10) 100
Marquette (1) 85
UConn 80
St. John's 79
Villanova 63
DePaul 53
Xavier 47
Seton Hall 31
Butler 29
Georgetown 27
Providence 11

Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year: Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
McKenna Brand, So., L/DS, UConn
Doga Kutlu, Gr., S, UConn
Emma Werkmeister, Sr., OH, UConn
Jaya Johnson, So., RS/MB, Creighton
Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton*
Kiara Reinhardt, Sr., MB, Creighton*
Hattie Bray, Sr., MB, Marquette*
Natalie Ring, Jr., OH, Marquette
Erin Jones, Sr., S/RS, St. John's*
Lucrezia Lodi, Sr., OH, St. John's
Rashanny Solano-Smith, Jr., L/DS, St. John's
Abby Harrell, Jr., OH, Villanova
Campbell McKinnon, So., MB, Villanova
Margo Kemp, RS-So., MB, Xavier
^Denotes tie in voting
*Denotes unanimous selection

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