NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Reuther, the NAIA leader in aces per set, served four aces and had eight kills Friday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 25-13, 25-12, 25-10 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory against Edward Waters.
     Moira Kirk, CeCe Williams and Chinedu Echebelem had six kills apiece for the Gold Nuggets (11-4, 5-0 GCAC), who won for the sixth consecutive time overall but the first time in three matches this season at The Barn. Alexandria Rencher and Franziska Pirkl served two aces apiece, and Kirk had two blocks.
     Latavia Graham had nine kills and Zakiyya Vincent four blocks for Edward Waters (5-13, 0-5). Xavier had a 40-19 advantage in kills and 10 players with at least one kill.
     Reuther and Kirk each had four kills and an ace in the first set. Xavier scored the first five points and closed the set with a 12-2 run. The Lady Tigers led 3-1 and 6-4 in the second set before the Nuggets took the lead for good, 7-6, on an Alexis Clay ace. Echebelem's ace gave Xavier a 2-sets-to-none lead.
     Xavier had nine kills, a block and an ace during a 17-4 run in the final set. An Echebelem kill ended the match. Reuther had two aces in the final set, giving her 43 this season in 48 sets.
     The Nuggets outhit Edward Waters .383 to .125 — it was the third consecutive match that Xavier hit ,340 or higher — and had an 11-0 advantage in aces. Xavier recorded its 19th consecutive victory, 15th in the regular season, against GCAC opponents.
     Xavier will play GCAC and city rival Dillard at 7 p.m. Monday at The Barn.