Volleyball Travels to Face No. 16 Creighton

Friday, September 26

Omaha, Neb.

7:30 p.m. ET

Xavier University

Creighton

09.25.25 | Volleyball

Watch Live Stats

The Musketeers look to extend their 1-0 BIG EAST record against the nationally-ranked Bluejays.

By: Abbey Curtis, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - The Xavier volleyball team heads to No. 16 Creighton on Friday looking to extend their 1-0 BIG EAST record.

The Musketeers opened BIG EAST play on Wednesday night with a sweep of Butler.

Xavier will be Creighton's first conference match of the year as the Bluejays look to defend their 11 straight BIG EAST title run.

XU has won it last six straight games and currently sits at 12-1 after finishing non conference with a program-best 11-1 record.

match information

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Xavier Musketeers (12-1, 1-0 BIG EAST) vs. Creighton Bluejays (7-5, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Omaha Neb. // D.J. Sokol Arena
Watch (Nebraska Public Media)
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 9.17 assists per set.
Xavier's defense ranks second in the league with a .177 opponent hitting percentage, 2.37 blocks per set and 14.98 digs per set.
Margo Kemp is second in the conference with 1.13 blocks per set while McKinley Boehm ranks fifth with 1.08, the highest of any rookie.
The Musketeers also rank second in kills per set (13.67) and third in hitting percentage (.263).
Kelsey Niesen ranks fifth in aces (0.45) and fourth in digs (4.29) per set.
Emma Grace ranks seventh in kills (3.57) and 10th in both digs (3.33) and points (3.87) per set. She recorded her 35th career double-double in the sweep of Butler on Wednesday night.
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.

scouting the bluejays

Creighton is currently 7-5 with all of their losses coming from Top-25 teams, four of which in the Top-5 of the AVCA poll.
CU is the 11-time defending champion of the BIG EAST and was unanimously picked to win the league again in 2025.
Outside hitter Ava Martin was voted BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year and named to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List.
Jaya Johnson and Kiara Reinhardt joined Martin on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Reinhardt's .422 hitting percentage ranks second in the league and 29th nationally.
Creighton is 26-1 all-time against the Musketeers, with XU's lone win coming in Cintas Center in 2023.
CU is currently ranked No. 16 in the AVCA Coaches Poll coming off of a 2-0 week at the Creighton Classic where the Bluejays swept USF and No. 17 Kansas.

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