Friday, November 5
Omaha, Neb.
6:30 PM
Creighton University
23-3,11-2Big East
3
vs
0
Xavier
10-14,5-8Big East
1
2
3
F
Xavier
18
22
22
0
Creighton
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Chelsea Nicholson
#24 Volleyball Sweeps Xavier Behind 14 Kills from Sis
11/5/2021 8:45:00 PM | Volleyball
Sis, Zimmerman and Welty Pound Down 32 Kills in Sweep
OMAHA, Neb. -- Led by a combined 32 kills from seniors Jaela Zimmerman, Annika Welty and freshman Norah Sis, No. 24 Creighton Volleyball swept Xavier on Friday, November 5. Set scores for the match were 25-18, 25-22 and 25-22.
The win lifted the Bluejays to 23-3 on the season and 11-2 in BIG EAST play with its sixth straight win, while Xavier fell to 10-14 overall and 5-8 in conference action with a sixth consecutive loss.
In the opening set Creighton set the tone early by soaring out to a 9-2 advantage. The Bluejays scored the first four points of the match on a pair of kills from Zimmerman and two Xavier errors. After Xavier claimed its first point of the night, Zimmerman put down her third kill, then Welty slammed home her first kill of the night. Welty collected her second kill and Sis grabbed her first to make it 8-2, then another Musketeer error pushed Creighton's lead to 9-2. The Bluejays hit .311 in the set, finishing with 15 kills and one error on 45 attempts as both teams notched 25 digs.
The Musketeers responded with renewed energy at the onset of the second set, building a 10-4 lead. Down 13-8 the Bluejays climbed back into the set with four straight points on a block from Zimmerman and junior Kiana Schmitt, kills from junior Keeley Davis and Sis and finally an ace from Sis to make it 13-12. Xavier held off the Bluejay comeback off as long as it could, but a three-point surge gave the Bluejays their first lead at 19-18. Freshman Kendra Wait led this charge with a block, a kill and an assist to Welty. After trailing 10-4, the Bluejays outscored the Musketeers 21-12 to take a two set lead, 25-22. Schmitt had three blocks and two kills while Abby Bottomley collected seven digs in the second set for CU.
A back-and-forth third set that featured six ties and four lead changes saw Creighton pull away late to complete the sweep. Down 16-15, Creighton took control with another 4-0 run. Zimmerman knotted the match at 16-16 on a kill, then a Musketeer ball handling error gave the Bluejays the lead (17-16). Kills from Sis and Schmitt helped push CU out to a 19-16 lead. Xavier clawed back within a point at 21-20, only to see Schmitt smash a ball to the floor and Welty and Zimmerman deliver a crucial block to make it 23-20. The Jays closed out its 21st win in as many tries against Xavier with a kill from Welty. Sis had five kills in the final set and the Bluejays limited Xavier to .083 hitting.
Sis led all attackers with 14 kills, and a .423 percentage, while Zimmerman closed the contest with 10 kills. Welty delivered eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage. Creighton finished with 49 kills, 61 digs, five aces and seven blocks on .286 hitting.
Xavier got a team-high 17 assists and eight kills from Carrigan O'Reilly, while Kelly Franxman and Emma Grace each had seven kills. Xavier wrapped up the night with 35 kills, three aces, 56 digs and six blocks on .176 hitting.
The Bluejays return to the court on Sunday, November 7 as Creighton hosts fourth-place Butler in a match slated to begin at 1:00 pm
NOTES: Creighton's 21 wins since 2013 against Xavier are its most against any opponent ... Naomi Hickman played in her 111th victory as a Bluejay, tied with Jaali Winters for most in Creighton history ... Creighton improved to 23-0 this year when winning the first set ... Creighton improved to 132-13 all-time in regular-season play in the BIG EAST.
The win lifted the Bluejays to 23-3 on the season and 11-2 in BIG EAST play with its sixth straight win, while Xavier fell to 10-14 overall and 5-8 in conference action with a sixth consecutive loss.
In the opening set Creighton set the tone early by soaring out to a 9-2 advantage. The Bluejays scored the first four points of the match on a pair of kills from Zimmerman and two Xavier errors. After Xavier claimed its first point of the night, Zimmerman put down her third kill, then Welty slammed home her first kill of the night. Welty collected her second kill and Sis grabbed her first to make it 8-2, then another Musketeer error pushed Creighton's lead to 9-2. The Bluejays hit .311 in the set, finishing with 15 kills and one error on 45 attempts as both teams notched 25 digs.
The Musketeers responded with renewed energy at the onset of the second set, building a 10-4 lead. Down 13-8 the Bluejays climbed back into the set with four straight points on a block from Zimmerman and junior Kiana Schmitt, kills from junior Keeley Davis and Sis and finally an ace from Sis to make it 13-12. Xavier held off the Bluejay comeback off as long as it could, but a three-point surge gave the Bluejays their first lead at 19-18. Freshman Kendra Wait led this charge with a block, a kill and an assist to Welty. After trailing 10-4, the Bluejays outscored the Musketeers 21-12 to take a two set lead, 25-22. Schmitt had three blocks and two kills while Abby Bottomley collected seven digs in the second set for CU.
A back-and-forth third set that featured six ties and four lead changes saw Creighton pull away late to complete the sweep. Down 16-15, Creighton took control with another 4-0 run. Zimmerman knotted the match at 16-16 on a kill, then a Musketeer ball handling error gave the Bluejays the lead (17-16). Kills from Sis and Schmitt helped push CU out to a 19-16 lead. Xavier clawed back within a point at 21-20, only to see Schmitt smash a ball to the floor and Welty and Zimmerman deliver a crucial block to make it 23-20. The Jays closed out its 21st win in as many tries against Xavier with a kill from Welty. Sis had five kills in the final set and the Bluejays limited Xavier to .083 hitting.
Sis led all attackers with 14 kills, and a .423 percentage, while Zimmerman closed the contest with 10 kills. Welty delivered eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage. Creighton finished with 49 kills, 61 digs, five aces and seven blocks on .286 hitting.
Xavier got a team-high 17 assists and eight kills from Carrigan O'Reilly, while Kelly Franxman and Emma Grace each had seven kills. Xavier wrapped up the night with 35 kills, three aces, 56 digs and six blocks on .176 hitting.
The Bluejays return to the court on Sunday, November 7 as Creighton hosts fourth-place Butler in a match slated to begin at 1:00 pm
NOTES: Creighton's 21 wins since 2013 against Xavier are its most against any opponent ... Naomi Hickman played in her 111th victory as a Bluejay, tied with Jaali Winters for most in Creighton history ... Creighton improved to 23-0 this year when winning the first set ... Creighton improved to 132-13 all-time in regular-season play in the BIG EAST.
Team Stats
XU
CU
Kills
35
49
Errors
14
13
Attempts
119
126
Hitting %
.176
.286
Points
44.0
61.0
Assists
33
46
Aces
3
5
Blocks
6.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB/RS
/ VolleyballOH
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