Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Georgetown
Volleyball Hosts Georgetown and Villanova to Open BIG EAST Play
09.24.26 | Volleyball
CINCINNATI – Xavier hosts Georgetown and Villanova for the opening weekend of BIG EAST play at Cintas Center Sept. 25 and 26.
First serve against Georgetown is set for 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 while first serve against Villanova is at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Musketeers are 7-4 overall this season entering league action.
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Xavier Musketeers (7-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Georgetown Hoyas (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
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Watch (XAVIER+)
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Xavier Musketeers (7-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Villanova Wildcats (7-4, 0-0 BIG EAST)
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Watch (XAVIER+)
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Charlotte Moriarty leads the Musketeers in kills with 133 so far this season, averaging 3.24 per set. Her 133 kills currently rank sixth in the league. The junior has also tallied 16 aces this season to rank eighth in the BIG EAST. Against Akron Moriarty had a career high four aces.
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Margo Kemp and Quinci Thomas account for 61 of the team's 91 blocks. Kemp tallies 35 so far this season while Thomas has 26. Against Akron, Kemp had a season high seven blocks.
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Kelsey Niesen ranks second in the BIG EAST and 54th nationally in digs with 190 so far this season. Niesen averages 4.63 digs per set and had a career high 27 digs against Ball State. In the most recent victory over Akron, the junior tallied 20 digs.
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Jenna Barhorst and Macy Hatkevich have each reached triple digits in assists so far this season. Hatkevich leads the Musketeers with 251 assists in 10 matches. Barhorst follows Hatkevich with 144 assists so far this season and had a career high 41 assists against Notre Dame.
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As a team, Xavier ranks third in the BIG EAST in aces with 64 through 11 matches. Against Austin Peay, the Musketeers had a season high 12 aces.
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Georgetown is 8-3 entering conference play most recently defeating George Washington 3-0 at home.
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Sept. 21 Berkeley Ploder was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the Hoyas. She had 13 total blocks and 13 kills in the previous week to land weekly honors. Ploder has 93 total kills this season and 43 blocks to lead the Hoyas.
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Kamryn Lee-Caracci was the lone player from Georgetown named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team and currently leads the team in kills with 116.
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As a team, Georgetown leads the BIG EAST in hitting percentage with a .252 clip.
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The Musketeers are 23-2 against the Hoyas while winning the last 12 matches dating back to 2019.
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Villanova has a 7-4 record so far this season, and most recently picked up two wins over Princeton and University of Maryland Baltimore County at the Villanova Classic.
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Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year, Abby Harrell, is averaging 3.29 kills per set for the Wildcats with 79 total kills this season.
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Two Wildcats have at least 90 digs this season with Cat Young leading the team with 95. Alyssa Nelson has tallied 92 digs this season.
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Villanova ranks second in the BIG EAST in team assists with 543 total and 12.34 per set.
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Xavier leads 15-11 in program history against Villanova. The Musketeers defeated the Wildcats twice in 2025, winning in five sets on the road and three at home.
Sept. 13 – McKinley Boehm – BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 7 – McKinley Boehm – BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Aug. 31 – Charlotte Moriarty, Kelsey Niesen – BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
BIG EAST 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
