Xavier University Athletics
Wednesday, September 24
Cincinnati, Ohio
6 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Butler
Volleyball Hosts Butler to Open BIG EAST Play
09.23.25 | Volleyball
The Musketeers face the Bulldogs in Cintas Center to begin the 16-game BIG EAST schedule.
CINCINNATI - Xavier and Butler are set to kick off the 2025 BIG EAST volleyball slate with a midweek match up at Cintas Center on Wednesday evening.
For the third season in a row, the Musketeers will play in the opening game of the BIG EAST volleyball season.
The Musketeers are currently 11-1, their best non conference record in program history, while riding a five-game win streak.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Sept. 2 - Margo Kemp - BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 8 - McKinley Boehm - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Sept. 8 - Macy Hatkevich - BIG EAST Setter of the Week
Sept. 8 - Emma Grace - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 22 - Macy Hatkevich - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
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
For the third season in a row, the Musketeers will play in the opening game of the BIG EAST volleyball season.
The Musketeers are currently 11-1, their best non conference record in program history, while riding a five-game win streak.
match information
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
- Xavier Musketeers (11-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Butler Bulldogs (7-6, 0-0 BIG EAST)
- Cincinnati, Ohio // Cintas Center
- Watch (Xavier+)
- Live Stats
about the musketeers
- Macy Hatkevich earned a spot on this week's BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after leading the league with 11.13 assists per set. The junior helped lead the Musketeers to a 2-0 week against Morehead State, totaling 89 assists, 18 digs, nine kills and seven blocks. She tabbed her 22nd career double-double in Saturday's home match against the Eagles on 47 assists and 13 digs. The setter ranks fourth in the league with 9.04 assists per set.
- The Musketeers were picked to finish seventh in the 2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after an 8-10 league record last season that put XU one spot out of the BIG EAST Tournament.
- Xavier's defense ranks second in the league with a .176 opponent hitting percentage, 2.41 blocks per set and 14.96 digs per set.
- Margo Kemp is second in the conference with 1.16 blocks per set while McKinley Boehm ranks sixth with 1.09, the highest of any rookie.
- The Musketeers also rank second in kills per set (13.65) and third in hitting percentage (.260).
- Kelsey Niesen ranks fourth in aces (0.46) and fifth in digs (4.24) per set.
- Emma Grace ranks seventh in kills (3.58) and 10th in both digs (3.33) and points (3.91) per set.
scouting the bulldogs
- Butler is currently 7-6 heading into BIG EAST play.
- The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the league this year coming off of a 5-13 conference record a season ago.
- Among common opponents this season, Butler also defeated Oakland and Eastern Michigan but lost to IU Indy in five sets.
- The Musketeers are 25-19 all-time against the Bulldogs, winning four of the last five including a sweep last year in Cintas Center.
- Head coach Kyle Shondell enters his third season at the helm and returns nine letter winners from last year's squad including last season's kill leader, Elise Ward.
- Junior Kaylee Finnegan ranks second in the BIG EAST with a mark of 10.22 assists per set.
- Sophomore outside hitter Alaleh Tolliver is second in the league with 4.90 points and 4.19 kills per set.
big east weekly honors
Sept. 2 - Margo Kemp - BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 8 - McKinley Boehm - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Sept. 8 - Macy Hatkevich - BIG EAST Setter of the Week
Sept. 8 - Emma Grace - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 22 - Macy Hatkevich - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
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
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballHIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball vs. Morehead State
Sunday, September 21
Volleyball vs Morehead State
Saturday, September 20
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball at Morehead State
Thursday, September 18
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball at Cincinnati
Wednesday, September 10