NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated city rival Dillard 30-28, 25-16, 25-15 at Dent Hall Monday to clinch a share of its fifth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season volleyball championship.
     The Gold Nuggets (17-7, 11-1) shared the title with SUNO, but Xavier won a tiebreaker to earn the No. 1 seeding in the conference tournament. Xavier won the GCAC regular season outright the previous four seasons.
     Xavier finished the regular season with its ninth consecutive victory and defeated Dillard (8-21, 7-5) for the 13th consecutive time.
     The No. 1 seeding gives Xavier a bye into Saturday's semifinals of the GCAC Tournament at Little Rock, Ark. The Gold Nuggets will play at 10 a.m. against the No. 3 seed, Dillard, or the No. 6 seed, Talladega. The championship match will start at 3 p.m. Saturday. Xavier is the four-time defending champion of the GCAC Tournament.
     Xavier has won 59 of its last 60 GCAC regular-season matches. Including tournaments, Xavier has won 70 of its last 71 matches against GCAC opponents.