MOBILE, Ala. — Xavier University of Louisiana scrambled to win the first set, then played from behind most of the time in a 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 volleyball loss to St. Thomas (Texas) in its second match of the University of Mobile Invitational Friday.
     The Gold Nuggets (6-4) dropped consecutive matches for the first time since Pat Kendrick became head coach in 2017. They lost in five sets to Mobile earlier in the day.
     XULA will play twice Saturday in this event — matches against Life at noon and William Carey at 4 p.m. — before playing host to city rival Loyola at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Convocation Center.
     St. Thomas (9-2) scored six straight points to take a 17-12 lead in the opening set, but XULA rallied behind three Kayla Black kills and two apiece from Jaida Dowd and Vivica Price-Spraggins. Dowd's kill clinched the set and capped a 6-1 run.
     The Celts never trailed in the second or third sets and took the lead for good in the fourth with five straight points to make it 14-10. XULA rallied for a tie at 20 in the third set after trailing 8-1, but St. Thomas scored the final five points.
     "It's hurtful," Black said of the two losses, "but it's good that it's happening now before we step into conference.
     "What was most disappointing was our first touches in serve receive. We made it harder for our setters and made it harder for our hitters."
     XULA produced 15 reception errors Friday and has 79 in 10 matches this season. Last year the Nuggets had 60 reception errors in 26 matches.
     Bresha Orange hit .333 with 17 kills and six blocks for St. Thomas, which is leaving the NAIA after this season to begin transitioning into NCAA Division III. Brooke Garcia had 12 kills and 11 digs, and Kayden Thomas had nine blocks.
     Black had 16 kills and 10 digs. Dowd had a season-high nine kills and a career-best three aces, and Beatrice Formilan tied her career high with 25 digs.
     XULA had advantages of 53-48 in kills and 69-64 in digs, but St. Thomas outhit the Gold Nuggets .218 to .138. XULA committed 31 attack errors, its most in its last 34 matches.
     XULA's leaders for the day were Black with 31 kills, Jordan Johnson with a .267 hitting percentage (minimum 10 attempts per match), Eva Le Guillou with 66 assists, Dowd with three aces, Formilan with 45 digs and Price-Spraggins with 10 blocks.

University of Mobile Invitational
Friday, Sept. 7
St. Thomas (Texas) d. Life 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 15-8)
Mobile d. XULA 3-2 (11-25, 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13)
William Carey d. Life 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 20-25, 26-24, 16-14)
St. Thomas (Texas) d. XULA 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20)

Saturday, Sept. 8
10 a.m. — St. Thomas (Texas) vs. William Carey
Noon — XULA vs. Life
2 p.m. — St. Thomas (Texas) vs. Mobile
4 p.m. — XULA vs. William Carey
6 p.m. — Mobile vs. Life