Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Gold Nuggets sweep Belhaven, snap losing streak


NEW ORLEANS — CeCe Williams had 12 kills, andDarian Harris produced three aces and 22 digs Tuesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Belhaven.
     
The Gold Nuggets (9-7) snapped a three-match losing streak and won at home for the fifth consecutive time.
     

Williams hit .385, her highest percentage ever in a match with 20 or more attacks. Harris had her most digs ever in a three-set match. She reached 20 digs for the fourth time this season and the 12th time in her career.
     

Taylor Reuther celebrated her birthday with eight kills, and Claudia Haywood and Jada Broussardhad seven kills apiece. Franziska Pirkl had her fourth double-double of the season, 27 assists and 11 digs, and Jodi Hill had five blocks to give her 17 in the last four matches.
     

Chae Levy had 10 kills for the Blazers (7-11), and Lauren Whiting and Molly Boyer had seven kills apiece. Kelly Aholt had 29 assists and 14 digs, and Cassidy Fitzpatrick had 13 digs.
     

Belhaven has lost four straight and nine of its last 10 matches.
     

Williams' four kills and Hill's three blocks led the Gold Nuggets in the opening set. Twice the Blazers cut the Gold Nuggets' second-set lead to one after trailing 19-13, but Xavier scored its last five points on kills, three by Reuther, to extend its match lead. Xavier trailed 12-8 in the fourth before taking control with a 10-0 run which included all three of Harris' aces. Pirkl ended the match with a kill.
     

Xavier outhit Belhaven .226 to .107 and had advantages of 45-34 in kills, 63-56 in digs and 7-3 in blocks..
     

Next for Xavier will be a 7 p.m. Thursday match at its Convocation Center against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent Edward Waters. It will be Fan Appreciation Night, with free pizza while supplies last.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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