MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Xavier University of Louisiana hit a season-high .333 Thursday in a 25-15, 25-13, 27-25 volleyball victory against St. Thomas (Fla.) in the STU Invitational.
     The Gold Nuggets (3-2) will play Friday at 11 a.m. against Missouri Valley (0-1) and 3 p.m. against Keiser (4-3) in this three-day event. Both times are Eastern Daylight. Because of a scheduling conflict, the Keiser match will be played up the street at Florida Memorial University's Wellness Center.
     XULA produced seven attack errors, its fewest in a regular-season non-conference match since 2011.
     Kayla Black hit a season-high .417 with 15 kills, eight digs, one ace and one block for the Gold Nuggets, who won their second in a row. Vivica Price-Spraggins had six kills, two blocks and five digs, Eva Le Guillou had 29 assists, and freshman Si Si Mitchell had a season-high 15 digs, nine in the first set.
     Taylor McGee, a back row specialist in the season-opening Early Bird Invitational at XULA last weekend, spent time up front and produced five kills and three blocks — the first kills and blocks of her college career.
     Arianna Bolinger had 10 kills and five aces for the Bobcats (2-4), who dropped their home opener and have lost two straight overall. Amanda Allende has seven kills but hit minus-.130, and Dayma Pla had 10 digs.
     XULA cruised in the first two sets — the Gold Nuggets allowed their fewest points ever in the first two sets of the first match of a season on an opponent's floor — then rallied after trailing 9-3 in the third. Adili Rikondja's kill ended the match; it was the Nuggets' third consecutive kill after St. Thomas scored three in a row for a 25-24 lead. Zora Barnett tied the set at 25, then Black moved the Nuggets to match point for the third time.
     It was XULA's first victory against St. Thomas. The Gold Nuggets lost in three to the Bobcats in the only other meeting at the 2016 STU Invitational.
     NOTES:  XULA had not won in three sets in the first match of a season on an opponent's court since 2010 . . . Jersey changes: Price-Spraggins wore No. 8 against STU, and Melody Scales, who hasn't played this season, wore No. 11. Official roster lists Price-Spraggins at 17 and Scales at 15 . . . Missouri Valley and Keiser are both first-time XULA volleyball opponents.