LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Taylor Reuther and Claudia Haywood had seven kills apiece, and Reuther and Darian Harris had 23 digs apiece to help Xavier University of Louisiana defeat Philander Smith 25-22, 25-13, 25-23 in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball Monday.
     The Gold Nuggets (16-7, 10-1) won their eighth in a row and remained in a first-place tie in the GCAC with SUNO, which won in four sets at Talladega. Xavier will clinch no worse than a share of the GCAC regular-season championship by winning at Dillard next Monday.
     Xavier is four-time defending champion of the GCAC regular season and tournament.
     "We finished the match on a positive note," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "We lacked energy and played quite flat the first one-and-a-half sets, but we figured it out about halfway through the second set. During the third set, we had to dig ourselves out of a few holes that Philander Smith created. I didn't feel the need to substitute our starters back in, however. I challenged our players on the court to pull through and finish, and they did just that."
     This is the fifth overall winning streak of eight matches or longer in XU's eight-year history. It's the Gold Nuggets' longest streak since 10 in a row last season.
     Philander Smith (11-19, 6-6) lost its fifth in a row. Zyra Wright had nine kills and 11 digs for the Lady Panthers.
     Xavier will return to Little Rock for the GCAC Tournament Nov. 13-14.