LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Xavier University of Louisiana will begin the defense of its Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament championship when it meets Talladega at 10 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals.
     The Gold Nuggets (17-7), seeded No. 1 and regular-season co-champion with SUNO, had a bye in Friday's opening round. Sixth-seeded Talladega got 30 kills from Carla Novaes and rallied to upset third-seeded Dillard 11-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 15-7.
     Xavier is 10-0 all-time against Talladega, 3-0 in the GCAC Tournament. This season the Gold Nuggets won 25-15, 25-14, 25-21 Sept. 7 at Xavier and 25-17, 25-11, 25-18 Oct. 17 at Talladega.
     Second-seeded SUNO advanced to the semifinals with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-21 victory against fifth-seeded Tougaloo. The Lady Knights will play seventh-seeded Edward Waters, which upset fourth-seeded Philander Smith 25-22, 25-18, 14-25, 25-23.
     Philander Smith's Mims Gym is the tournament venue. Xavier won the previous four GCAC Tournament titles.