Seven straight, and counting
Volleyball, 8-0 in A-10 play, streaking as Dayton showdown looms
Paul Moeller
Associate Sports Editor
goxavier.com
It is not often that a volleyball squad from Brookings, South Dakota, boards a plane and travels 927 miles due southeast. It is even less likely that such a team’s end destination would be Cintas Center, a playing facility on a college campus in Cincinnati, Ohio.
However, such was the case two weeks ago when the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits came to town for a less-than-heated contest against the Xavier Musketeers.
The Xavier netters swept SDSU in three games with scores of 30-18, 30-23 and 30-28. Leading the way for the Musketeers was senior Jill Quayle, sophomore Kelly Ruth and freshman Claire Paszkiewicz.
Quayle notched an astounding .625 hitting percentage while Ruth tallied her ninth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 16 digs. Paszkiewicz dished out 31 assists in her setting efforts.
Freshman Katie Russell and senior Jenni Horvath crept up the kill board, roping 13 and 10 winners, respectively.
Then off to a double-date in the Keystone State, the XU volleyball squad visited Philadelphia to face La Salle on Oct. 5 and Temple on Oct. 6. The Musketeers took care of business, preserving their unbeaten Atlantic 10 record.
Starting off on Friday against the La Salle Explorers, the Musketeers cruised to a 3-0 victory at the hands of Quayle and sophomore Hillary Otte. The dynamic duo plastered 12 kills a piece, attacking from both the inside and outside of the net.
Their efforts were aided by the sophomore team of Ruth and Lauren Kaminsky, who each had 10 digs. Paszkiewicz was again in a giving mood, passing out 23 assists for the match. The win improved Xavier to 15-6 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference.
The following afternoon, the Muskies traveled across town to duel with the Temple Owls. This match would prove to be much more of a challenge; it took a decisive fifth game for the Musketeers to emerge victorious.
Ruth rocketed a career-high 21 kills , Otte smashed 19, and Quayle notched 18 for the Musketeers.
Ruth also scooped up 12 digs en route to her 10th double-double of the season while Quayle recorded eight total blocks.
However, leading the Musketeers in the dig column was Kaminsky and junior Jen Welsh, each with 14.
The Owls took control of the match early by swooping in to take the first two games, but Xavier stayed hungry.
Fighting back from the 0-2 deficit, the Muskies rallied to take the third and fourth games with scores of 30-25 and 30-26.
They carried the momentum into the fifth game and caged the Owls for good by the score of 15-6.
With their A-10 unbeaten streak still intact, the XU netters returned home to Cintas Center for some fall break action against two more East Coast opponents.
Facing the Charlotte 49ers, the Musketeers were again victorious. The Xavier netters sweept the 49ers by scores of 30-24, 30-24 and 30-21.
The magic number was “14” for the Musketeers, with Otte leading the squad with 14 kills and Horvath recording a team-high 14 digs.
Regular leaders Ruth and Quayle highlighted the statistical columns again the following evening as Xavier handed defeat to yet another A-10 opponent, the George Washington Colonials.
Again winning by a 3-0 sweep, the Musketeers have now won seven consecutive matches and nine of their last 10.
Freshmen Chelsea Campbell, Noelle Spitler and Shannon Voors all saw some third game action for the Xavier squad.
Although the Muskies are a perfect 8-0 in the Atlantic 10, so is their next opponent, the Dayton Flyers.
But the Flyers’ win streak does not stop outside conference play. In fact, it has not stopped this season.
The Dayton squad sits at No. 12 in the nation with a perfect 21-0 record.
The match is set for 7 p.m. this Friday and has been declared the second annual “Dig for the Cure” match.
Lav named candidate for Cousy Award
John LaFollette
Sports Editor
Senior Drew Lavender has been named an official candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, according to officials at the Basketball Hall of Fame, which sponsors the annual award for the nation’s best point guard.
Lavender averaged 15.3 points and 6.3 assists per game over Xavier’s last 12 games last season.
“Drew emerged as one of the premiere players at his position in all of college basketball from mid-January until the NCAA Tournament a year ago,” said men’s head basketball coach Sean Miller.
A member of the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team and an A-10 All-Championship Team pick, Lavender averaged 11.2 points and 4.8 assists in his first season of eligibility since transferring from Oklahoma.
“His assist-to-turnover ratio, his 3-point shooting percentage and his defensive performances all added up to make him a very special player,” Miller added.
“This season I fully expect him to pick up where he left off from a year ago and have a terrific senior campaign,” he said.
Fantasy football report with Tyler Grote
Locks:
Thomas Jones definitely gets a RB spot this week. Want to know when one of your RBs is going to quite possibly have a season-high game? Check and see if they play a depleted Bengals defense. Ask Larry Johnson about that.
Another RB that you’re going to want to play this week is Reggie Bush. Considering the fact that he only has two TDs and only averaging a little under 50 yards a game, I could see why many people have gone a different route. This week, however, Bush lines up against an Atlanta defense that is allowing almost 140 yards per game on the ground.
Is it possible to actually recommend starting someone from the Raven’s Offense? Sure it is, that’s why I’m going to recommend three people from the Ravens.
Todd Heap, Derrick Mason and Willie McGahee are set to play the league ’s worst run defense and the 24th ranked passing defense. If Kyle Boller and/or Steve McNair feel like showing up or can simply put the ball in the air, any one of these guys can give you some big numbers this week.
images.usatoday.com
For the second week straight, make sure Larry Johnson is in that starting line up. Oakland is allowing almost 150 rushing yards per game.
Docks:
Denver brings to the table the 5th best passing offense in the league. And any other week I’d call you nuts for doing this, but this week, maybe sitting Jay Cutler down and giving one of your back-up QBs a spot start would do you some good. Ponder: the Broncos are playing the top-ranked rushing defense and number-two overall passing defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
espn.go.com
I called this before and I’ll call it again: Consider letting Jon Kitna and/or Roy Williams take a break this week. They play a menacing Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that is only allowing a little under 20 points per game and have taken the ball away from opposing offenses seven times. Just some food for thought.
I thought Justin Fargas would be a great pick up last week, considering the fact that he was doing nothing but producing. But hey, Lamont Jordan is the Raiders’ starter and coach Lane Kiffin won’t try anything else it seems. Dock him.
Shocks:
I don’t see a lot of sleepers this week. If Jamal Lewis is going to remain out, do the smart thing and go grab Jason Wright, the back up running back out of Cleveland. He found his way into the end zone. Unfortunately, they have a bye, but he makes a great addition for a spot start.
It could be Shaun Alexander’s week this week...could be. My thoughts on him are that I don’t see much production until that cast comes off. That being said, he also plays St. Louis this week, a team that not only has not produced a win, but is allowing nearly 140 yards on the ground per game. Maybe we have something here...
Doug Tifft
Sports Editor
‘Madness’ to set in Saturday night
While the season officially started last Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday will be the opener for Xavier Nation.
This Saturday at 6 p.m. the Xavier men’s and women’s basketball teams will have their annual Skyline Chili Musketeer Madness Celebration.
The event will feature intra-squad scrimmages, a dunk contest featuring two-time defending champion junior Derrick Brown, prize give-aways such as electronics and trips, and the All-American Frisbee Dogs.
There will be pizza at the Party on the Plaza at 4 p.m. before the gates open at 5 p.m.
Admission is free and open to the public.
goxavier.com
Sophomore Derrick Brown is poised to win his third consecutive slam dunk contest.
Muskies ‘Dig For The Cure’ vs. UD
This Friday the Xavier volleyball team will go for their second win over a ranked opponent this season as they take on rival and 12th rated Dayton in the second annual “Dig For The Cure” match.
The Muskies are 18-6 including a victory on Sept. 14 over No. 14 Cal Poly, and ride into the game on a seven game winning streak.
Dayton is on its longest winning streak in school history at 21-0.
The winner of the contest will take sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference West Division as both teams come in at 8-0 in conference play.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer, and money will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Center for every dig in the match.
