Box Score UNO-XULA Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – Xavier rallied from a set down to defeat the University of New Orleans 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-13) on Tuesday night at the Human Performance Center.
Taylor Reuther led XULA (16-6) with 18 kills. The freshman from Dominican who was held in check in the previous encounter against UNO (2-17) limited her errors to seven while adding 10 digs to her count in the victory.
Reuther was one of a pair of Gold Nuggets with double-double performances. Patrice Hightower joined the freshman with 31 assists and 13 digs.
UNO was led in defeat by
Elena Villar, who tallied a career-high 13 kills and posted 10 digs.
Tory Hearn matched Villar with a career-high 13 kills while also leading the Privateers with four service aces.
Laila Hansen added 10 kills for UNO while
Ryan Hamilton put up 37 assists.
Jessie Mouton paced the Privateers with 12 digs.
UNO won the opening set 25-22 after hitting .212 for the frame. Hearn finished off XULA in the frame with consecutive aces while Hamilton connected on kills in each of her three attacks in the set.
The Gold Nuggets evened the score at one set apiece by neutralizing the Privateer attack. UNO hit 12 errors and finished with a .000 attack clip as XULA prevailed 25-20 heading into the break.
Trailing 24-21, the visiting Gold Nuggets rallied. XULA held off three Privateer match points and scored six straight points to take the frame 26-24.
The momentum continued for the Gold Nuggets in the fourth set as XULA never trailed on way to a 25-13 victory. The Gold Nuggets hit .500 for the frame to finish the match with a .232 hitting percentage.
The Privateers will head to Alabama this week for Gulf South Conference matches against Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama. UNO will face UAH on Friday at 7 p.m. and UWA on Saturday at 1 p.m.
