BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Xavier University of Louisiana lost 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10 to Bethel (Ind.) in the opening match of the Mariner Invitational volleyball tournament Friday.
     CeCe Williams had a career-high 18 kills for the Gold Nuggets (2-3) and produced 16 digs in her third double-double of the season. Ruby Hunt-Thompson had 11 kills, Taylor Reuther 10, Claudia Haywood eight and Jodi Hill seven for Xavier.
     Reuther and Darian Harris had a season-high 21 digs apiece. Franziska Pirkl had 13 digs and 40 assists — her second double-double of the season — and Kayla Jones had seven digs.
     Harris served four of the Gold Nuggets' five aces, two during a 5-0 run to close the fourth set.
     Xavier hit .202 — .259 in its two winning sets — and produced season highs of 59 kills and 85 digs. It was the Gold Nuggets' first five-set match of the season.
     Bethel is 5-2. It was the teams' first meeting.
     Xavier will play NAIA No. 20 Coastal Georgia at 1 p.m. EDT Friday. The Gold Nuggets will play Saturday against Martin Methodist at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. against Bryan.