In a record-setting Labor Day weekend for the Xavier volleyball team, the Musketeers experienced an up-and-down three matches of tournament play in the Xavier Invitational at Cintas Center. The Musketeers got off to a fast start in their first match on Friday against Tennessee Tech, defeating them in three sets (25-14, 25-15, 25-19). Xavier dominated the match, holding Tennessee Tech to a .090 hitting percentage and posting nine aces against TTU’s one. Senior Stephanie Vorherr and sophomore Aubree Smith, who turned out to be the stars of the weekend for the Musketeers, were standouts. Vorherr notched a match-high 17 digs, and Smith assisted
32 in the Xavier victory. The Musketeers then faced Ole
Miss later that night. Xavier took the first set against a Rebels team that had already dropped their first match against Marquette in three games. However, Ole Miss would not go away as they did against Marquette. After both teams traded controlling wins in the next two sets, the Rebels fought back in the fourth set and won 26-24, with the Musketeers serving for the match win. Ole Miss took advantage of their newfound momentum and grabbed the match after they defeated
the Muskies in a 15-8 final set (22-25, 25-18, 14-25, 26-24,
15-8). Despite the loss, there were still bright spots on the Xavier side of affairs, as junior Sarah Brown had a match-high 15 kills, Smith posted 46 assists and Vorherr broke her
own record from 2010 for most Xavier digs in a match with 46. In their final match on Saturday, the Musketeers faced a formidable opponent, Marquette, who had not conceded a set in their previous two matches. Despite a hard fought match
from the Musketeers, Xavier suffered the same fate, losing all three sets (26-24, 25-21, 27-25). After falling behind in the first two sets, the Musketeers fought back with a scoring run in each set to put pressure on the Golden Eagles before dropping both sets. The Musketeers came close to a victory in the third set as they battled back after being down 23-21, but Marquette put Xavier away after consecutive kills. After going
1-2 in the Xavier Invitational, Smith was named to the All
Tournament Team with 106 assists in three matches.
Now with 1,735 digs in her career, Vorherr holds the career
record for digs at Xavier, passing Beth Osterday in Tuesday’s victory over Miami (Ohio). She was also named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week for this week. The Musketeers defeated the Miami RedHawks in five sets Tuesday night. The women’s volleyball team will return to action on Friday
against Texas A&M in the Asics Invitational in Newark, Del.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025