Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Ball State
Musketeers to Compete in Notre Dame Tournament
08.27.26 | Volleyball
CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball travels to South Bend, Ind. for the Notre Dame Tournament Aug. 29-30.
The Musketeers are set to play Ball State Saturday, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. and Notre Dame Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.
AUGUST 28
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Notre Dame vs. Ball State – 6:30 p.m.
AUGUST 29
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Xavier vs. Ball State – 3:00 p.m.
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Live Stats – bit.ly/4iyDQnj
AUGUST 30
- Xavier vs. Notre Dame – 1:00 p.m.
- Live Stats – bit.ly/4y5oFqm
- Watch – bit.ly/4gU1DwJ
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In the season opener against Pitt, Charlotte Moriarty tallied 17 kills with a .325 attack percentage.
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Macy Hatkevich had 22 assists and one service ace against the Panthers.
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Kelsey Niesen led the Musketeers in digs with 10 in the opening match.
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Xavier is 0-1 to begin the 2026 season.
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McKinley Boehm, Hatkevich and Margo Kemp were named to the 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
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The Musketeers were picked to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
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Ball State was picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving three first place votes.
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The Cardinals had three additions to the Preseason All-MAC team, Gwen Crull, Sophie Ledbetter, and Camryn Wise.
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Ball State opens their season Friday, Aug. 28 against Notre Dame at 6:30 p.m.
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Crull and Wise each had over 200 kills on the 2025 season and above a .340 hitting percentage.
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Ledbetter had a team high of 483 digs and 671 total attempts in 2025 for Ball State.
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Notre Dame was picked to finish 12th in the ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll while receiving 104 points.
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In 2025, Notre Dame went 12-16 overall and 9-11 in the ACC.
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The Fighting Irish have added three transfers for the 2026 season, including Stella Adeyemi coming from Hawaii, Chloe Hooker from Loyola Marymount, and Angie Desamours.
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Notably, Notre Dame loses their top outside hitter, Morgan Gaerte, to Kentucky as a transfer. Gaerte was responsible for 497 kills and 575 points for ND in 2025.
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first place votes)
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Creighton, 100 (10)
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Villanova, 86
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Marquette, 82 (1)
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Xavier, 75
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DePaul, 62
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Georgetown, 49
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UConn, 48
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St. John's, 36
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Butler, 34
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Providence, 20
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Seton Hall, 13
Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year
Abby Harrell, Sr., OH, Villanova
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Elise Ward, Sr., OH, Butler
Abbey Hayes, So., OH, Creighton
Ayden Ames, Jr., MB, Creighton
Jaya Johnson, Sr., RS/MB, Creighton*
Kendall Timme, So., OH, DePaul*
Kamryn Lee-Caracci, So., MB, Georgetown
Carson Tyler, Jr., OH, Marquette
Rashanny Solano Smith, Sr., L, St. John's
Abby Harrell, Sr., OH, Villanova
Campbell McKinnon, Jr., MB, Villanova*
Macy Hatkevich, Sr., S, Xavier*
Margo Kemp, Rs-Jr., MB, Xavier
McKinley Boehm, Rs-So., MB, Xavier
*Denotes unanimous selection
^Denotes tie in voting
