NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana opened its 12th season of intercollegiate volleyball Friday with a 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 15-13 loss to Cumberland in the Gold Nuggets' Early Bird Invitational at the Convocation Center.
     The Gold Nuggets never led in the fifth set. Kayla Black (18 kills, 23 digs), Eva Le Guillou (53 assists, three blocks), Zora Barnett (12 kills, six blocks), Bria Mayes (12 kills), Ema Causevic (11 kills, 13 digs) were some of the XULA statistical leaders.
     It was the ninth time in the program's history that XULA forced a fifth set after dropping the first two.
     Masa Nalovic had 15 kills for Cumberland (1-0), and Lyssette Serna and Mikayla Wickham had 13 kills apiece.
     XULA's second tournament match was scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday against Coastal Georgia. City rival Loyola and NAIA No. 5 Viterbo also are in this five-team event.