VOLLEYBALL: Xavier (La.) completes weekend sweep of Rams

By Alan Wiederhold-Sohn
HT Athletic Communications

AUSTIN – The Gold Nuggets of Xavier (La.) concluded their weekend volleyball trip to Huston-Tillotson University by defeating the Rams in three sets Saturday.
 
Scores of the match were 25-18, 25-14, and 25-16.
 
At HT's Branch Gymnasium, Chloe Gaytan led the Huston-Tillotson offense with nine kills, while also digging eight opposition attacks in the match. Elaina Spriggins handed out 12 assists to her HT teammates, while senior libero Danelle McCullough tallied 15 digs.
 
Taylor Parker led Xavier (9-12, 6-2 RRAC) with nine kills and four total blocks, three of which were solo blocks. Olivia Arroyo and central Texas native Kamea Uitenham (Hutto, Texas) put away eight kills apiece for the Gold Nuggets.
 
In sets one and three, the Nuggets used short runs on points midway through the frame to create some distance between themselves and HT. Xavier's 5-1 run midway through the first set gave them a 15-10 lead the Nuggets would not relinquish.
 
A similar 6-1 Xavier run in set three gave the Nuggets 16-10 lead; HT was unable to trim the deficit to fewer than four points for the remainder of the match. In set two, Xavier seized control early by scoring eight of the set's first 10 points.
 
Despite their struggles of late, the Rams (3-14, 3-7) are still chasing a bid into the postseason Red River Athletic Conference tournament. They remain only two games behind Louisiana Christian (10-12, 4-4 RRAC) for the sixth and final tournament berth; HT concludes conference pay with trips to 1-10 Southwest (N.M.), and then to LCU.
 
The Rams return to action Friday, Oct. 18, when they celebrate Senior Day and host Our Lady of the Lake in the first match of an unusual home-and-home series. First serve Friday from Branch Gymnasium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, Oct. 19, will see the Rams make the trip to San Antonio to conclude their weekend series with Our Lady of the Lake.

– HT –