NEW ORLEANS — Freshmen Veronica Azubuike and
Wynieka Anderson had 11 kills and four aces apiece Tuesday to rally SUNO to a
22-25, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22, 15-11 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's
volleyball victory over Xavier University of Louisiana at The Barn.
The victory was just the second in 22 matches for
SUNO's 2-year-old program. It was the GCAC opener for both teams.
The Lady Knights (1-1) rallied from an 18-16 deficit
to win the fourth set, then took an 11-4 advantage in the fifth. Xavier (2-2)
closed to 11-10 before Anderson served consecutive aces to help SUNO clinch
first-year Coach Naomi Washington's first victory.
Freshman
Sierra Lyons had 20 kills, the most by a
Xavier player this season. Lyons' kill put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay
22-21 in the first set, and she clinched the set and capped a 6-1 run with
another kill.
SUNO served 15 aces, seven more than Xavier, and
denied the Gold Nuggets a school-record third consecutive victory.
Xavier will play twice at The Barn on Saturday —
1 p.m. against GCAC opponent Tougaloo and 4 p.m. against NCAA Division I member
Mississippi Valley. Tougaloo will play Mississippi Valley at 2:30 p.m.