NEW ORLEANS — Alysa Klassen and Kiki Coombs combined for 21 kills, eight in the final set, to lead Faulkner to a 25-19, 19-25, 25-20, 25-18 non-conference volleyball victory Friday against Xavier University of Louisiana at the Convocation Center.
     The Gold Nuggets (7-12) produced 104 digs, their second most in a match since the program restarted in 2010. Freshman Amanda Perry had 31 digs — equaling the most by a XULA player in the last seven seasons — and extended to 18 her school-record streak of consecutive matches with double-figure digs.
     Faulkner (8-10) seized momentum in the third set, closing with a 13-2 run after trailing 18-12. The Lady Eagles never trailed in the final set and scored four consecutive points after XULA cut its deficit to 10-9.
     Klassen finished with 11 kills and three blocks, and Coombs had 10 kills. Daijah Washington and Julianne Wilkes had 23 digs apiece. and Ashley Ingwersen had 11 fourth-set digs to finish with 20.
     Juliana Tomasoni had 16 kills and 21 digs for XULA, and Terri Drake and Taylor Ducros (career high) had seven kills apiece. Kayla Jones produced a season-high-tying 17 digs, and Ducros had 11 digs. Perry and Jones served two aces apiece.
     Faulkner outhit XULA .160 to .103.
     XULA will travel to play the University of Mobile at 3 p.m. Saturday. It will be the Gold Nuggets' third match in as many days. The next XULA home match will start at 6 p.m. Thursday against SUNO.