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Women's Volleyball: Marquette 3, Xavier 1

The Golden Eagles move to 4-1 in the Big East and stay within striking distance of Creighton and Seton Hall.

Autumn Bailey's defense was just as good as her offense against Xavier.
Autumn Bailey's defense was just as good as her offense against Xavier.
MarquetteImages.com

For the first time in 2014, Marquette volleyball bounced back from a first set loss to come away with a win, defeating Xavier, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-19.  The win moves Marquette to 13-4 on the season and 4-1 in Big East contests.

Autumn Bailey led four Golden Eagles in double digit kils with 20, and she chipped in 12 digs as well for her 11th consecutive double-double.  Nele Barber had her second straight double-double, adding 13 kills and 15 digs.

Marquette closed a four point Xavier lead in the first set, and led 21-20.  The Musketeers fired off the next four points to take the lead and eventually closed out the opening frame.  That ending lit a fire under Marquette, as they jumped out to early leads in the next three sets - 11-4 in the second, 5-0 in the third, and 7-3 in the fourth - to seize control of play and dictate terms to the Musketeers.  Only in the fourth set was Xavier able to close the gap and make the set interesting.  A 6-2 Musketeers run where the only two MU points came on Xavier service errors tied the set at 19, but a kill from Bailey put the Golden Eagles in front for good.  Marquette ripped off the final six points of the set to secure the win.

Xavier was led by 11 kills from Kristen Massa.  Gabby Benda started the match at setter for MU, but split time with Mary Nilles, as the pair tallied 28 and 23 assists respectively.  Lauren Houg had a match high 16 digs for Marquette.

Up Next: Marquette continues a three match road swing.  They'll be in Chicago on Saturday night to square off with DePaul.  The Blue Demons (3-14, 1-4 Big East) have lost 11 of their last 12 matches.