NEW ORLEANS — Moira Kirk had nine of her 17 kills in the final two sets Thursday to rally Xavier University of Louisiana to a 21-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-12, 15-7 women's volleyball victory against city rival SUNO.
        The Gold Nuggets (17-7 overall, 9-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) won the GCAC regular-season championship for the second consecutive year. They did it in the final intercollegiate event at The Barn, Xavier's 75-year-old gymnasium. The university will open its new Convocation Center to the public Saturday with two basketball games.
        Xavier has won 19 consecutive regular-season matches against GCAC opponents since the start of 2011. The Nuggets will close the regular season at 7 p.m. Saturday in a GCAC match at city rival Dillard, then travel to Little Rock, Ark., to defend their GCAC Tournament title.
        Zipporah Washington had 11 kills, six aces and 16 digs for SUNO (19-9, 7-2).