Tuesday, September 9
Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Cincinnati
Xavier Travels to Crosstown Rival Cincinnati on Tuesday
09.08.25 | Volleyball
The Musketeers look to remain undefeated with a win over the rival Bearcats.
CINCINNATI - The undefeated Xavier volleyball team faces crosstown rival Cincinnati on Tuesday evening in the annual match up between the two.
The Musketeers look to keep their unbeaten streak alive while the Bearcats seek to defend their home court after dropping the last match up between the teams in Fifth Third Arena, 3-1.
Xavier remains one of just 37 teams in the nation still undefeated as of Sept. 8.
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SEPTEMBER 9 | 6:30 PM
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
(first-place votes)
Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year:Â 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 selectionÂ
The Musketeers look to keep their unbeaten streak alive while the Bearcats seek to defend their home court after dropping the last match up between the teams in Fifth Third Arena, 3-1.
Xavier remains one of just 37 teams in the nation still undefeated as of Sept. 8.
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match information
SEPTEMBER 9 | 6:30 PM
- Xavier Musketeers (6-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1, 0-0 BIG 12)
- Watch (ESPN+)
- Live Stats
about the musketeers
- McKinley Boehm was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for her dominant defensive performance where she totaled 19 blocks including five solos. The redshirt freshman leads the BIG EAST with 1.46 blocks per set to help Xavier lead the league with 2.79 blocks per set. She matched her career-high nine blocks in the win over Miami (OH) and totaled seven blocks the night before against IU Indy. The middle blocker capped off the weekend with a career-high nine kills on a .600 clip against Eastern Kentucky to earn a spot on the Xavier Tournament All-Tournament Team.
- Macy Hatkevich was also named the BIG EAST Setter of the Week after leading the league with 9.92 assists per set. The junior Toledo transfer notched a career-high 56 assists in the Musketeers' five-set win over Miami (OH) on Friday night. She also recorded 10 digs in the match to tab her first Xavier double-double.
- Emma Grace was named the Xavier Tournament MVP and earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after leading the league with 4.54 kills per set last week. The redshirt senior notched a double-double in all three matches over the weekend including two 20+ kill performances. She tallied a new career-high 23 kills against Miami (OH) and nearly matched her dig record with 27. She had 20 kills and 13 digs while hitting .333 against IU Indy and closed the weekend with 16 kills and 13 digs against Eastern Kentucky.
- Anna Taylor earned a spot on the Xavier Tournament All-Tournament Team as well for her 40 kills and eight blocks while hitting .407 over the weekend. Against IU Indy, she tallied 14 kills and four blocks on a .462 clip. She followed up with 16 kills and two blocks while hitting .500 in the win over Miami (OH). The redshirt senior ranks second in the league with a .420 hitting percentage.
- Xavier leads the league with a .149 combined opponent hitting percentage, only allowing one team to hit above .200 so far this season.
- The Musketeers also lead the conference with a combined 2.79 blocks per set. McKinley Boehm (1.46) and Margo Kemp (1.21) both rank in the top-five for individual block leaders.
- XU averages 15.38 digs per set, the second-highest mark in the BIG EAST. Kelsey Niesen's 4.42 and Emma Grace. 3.43 digs both rank in the top-10 of individual leaders.
- Xavier's 71 kills in the five-set win over Miami (OH) are the most kills in a single match this year by a BIG EAST team.
- The Musketeers' 19 blocks against Murray State are the most by any team in the league thus far into the season.
- Villanova and UConn remain the only undefeated teams in the BIG EAST along with Xavier. Only 37 teams in the nation are still undefeated.
scouting the bearcats
- Cincinnati is currently 4-1 after winning the Chattanooga Classic last weekend, defeating Ohio, Jacksonville State and Alabama.
- The Bearcats were picked to finish 13th in the Big 12 this season after finishing with a 5-13 league last season.
- UC leads the all-time series between the two, 24-14, including a 3-1 win at Cintas Center last year.
- Emma Grace had 13 kills and 16 digs in last year's contest on Sept. 12, 2024. Anna Taylor contributed 11 kills and two blocks
- Xavier defeated the Bearcats, 3-1, the last time the match up was played at Fifth Third Arena.
- Cincinnati Head Coach Danijela Tomić is in her first season with the Bearcats.
preseason big east honors
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
(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:Â 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 selectionÂ
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballHIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball at Cincinnati
Wednesday, September 10
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball vs. Eastern Kentucky
Sunday, September 07
Volleyball vs Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, September 06
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball vs. Miami (Ohio)
Saturday, September 06