NEW ORLEANS — Zorana Piljevic and Monica Barros de
Alcantara combined for 11 of Dillard's 15 aces Thursday in a 25-18, 25-15, 25-18
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference victory over Xavier University of Louisiana before
900 fans at Dent Hall.
It was the first women's volleyball meeting in six years
between the longtime rivals, and the Lady Bleu Devils (7-3 overall, 1-0 GCAC)
have won all seven times.
Piljevic served six aces — two during a 7-1 run
to open the second set and two in a row to bring Dillard to set point. De
Alcantara had five aces.
Krista Hall led Dillard with nine kills, and Jamara
Celistan had six.
Sierra Lyons led Xavier (4-10, 1-2) with 10 kills, and
Celeste Poe had 10 digs. Xavier, one of the NAIA team leaders in aces, served just two.
Dillard used a 10-1 run to erase a 6-4 Xavier lead
in the first set and won the third set after trailing 5-0. Valencia Wise's
kill put Dillard ahead to stay at 17-16 and started a 9-2 run to close the match.
The Gold Nuggets will try to snap a seven-match losing
streak when they play Spring Hill (10-2) at noon Friday in Loyola's Hampton Inn
Wolfpack Classic. Dillard will play Loyola at 7 p.m.
