NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball put the finishing touches on a third consecutive unbeaten season in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with a 25-14, 25-12, 25-20 victory Saturday against Dillard at the Convocation Center.
     The Gold Nuggets (27-6, 14-0) also set a school record for victories in a season. The previous mark was 26, set in 2013 and tied in 2018.
     Taylor McGee and Ema Causevic had seven kills apiece for XULA, which defeated its city rival for the 22nd consecutive time. Jaida Dowd had six kills and hit .385, and Vivica Price-Spraggins and Adili Rikondja had five kills apiece.
     XULA had a 10-0 advantage in aces, with Causevic serving three and Eva Le Guillou and Si Si Mitchell serving two apiece. Le Guillou had 16 assists, seven digs and a block, and Tiffany Phillips had two kills in as many swings and 10 assists. Price-Spraggins had four blocks, and Rikondja had two. Jennifer Torres had 12 digs — she reached double figures for the 21st time this season — five assists and an ace.
     Desire Neal had eight kills, Alexis Barnett had 16 digs, and Elisabeth Gallon had four blocks for Dillard (13-15, 10-4).
     XULA outhit Dillard .202 to minus-.020 — Dillard's lowest match percentage of the last two seasons — and had advantages of 34-24 in kills, 42-38 in digs and 5-4 in blocks. XULA had 23 total errors, and Dillard had 40.
     Rikondja, Phillips and Amanda Perry were honored in a senior-day ceremony prior to the match. During the men's basketball game between XULA and LeMoyne-Owen — it preceded volleyball — the Gold Nuggets were presented their GCAC regular-season championship trophy. They clinched a tie for the title Oct. 19 and won it outright Nov. 2.
     "Glad we had a strong finish to the regular season," XULA head coach Pat Kendrick said. "We're looking forward to the conference tournament."
     XULA and the Convocation Center will play host to the GCAC Tournament Friday and Saturday. XULA, the No. 1 seed, will play eighth-seeded Rust in the opening match at 9 a.m. Friday. If the Gold Nuggets advance, they would play in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday. The championship match will start at 2 p.m. Saturday.