NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana and Our Lady of the Lake, tied for first place in Red River Athletic Conference women's volleyball, will try to break that tie this weekend in a two-match series at the University of New Orleans Human Performance Center.
        The Gold Nuggets (15-5 overall, 10-0 RRAC) and Saints (14-4, 10-0) will play at 7 p.m. CDT Saturday and noon Sunday. If either team sweeps, it will have a two-match lead on the other with four conference matches remaining for each.
        XULA will offer free bus transportation Saturday from XULA to UNO. The bus will depart the University Center on Drexel Drive at 6 p.m. and return to campus immediately after the match. There will be no bus service Sunday.
        XULA and OLLU shared the RRAC regular-season championship a year ago — it was the Gold Nuggets' first season in the league — then XULA defeated the Saints 15-4 in the fifth set at OLLU to win the RRAC Tournament.
        Someone's winning streak will end Saturday. XULA has won 62 consecutive conference home matches dating to 2010; OLLU has won nine straight overall after rallying Wednesday for a five-set home victory against NCAA Division III Texas Lutheran.
        XULA's statistical leaders include Kennedy Wade with 247 kills and 27 aces, Maya Smith with a .414 hitting percentage and 59 blocks, Emi Riglioni with 352 assists and Linda Mungai with 334 digs. OLLU's statistical leaders include Mia Dorsey with 224 kills and 28 aces, Tijana Kruta with a .218 hitting percentage and 52 blocks, Lauren Reynard with 578 assists and Tina Trevino with 324 digs.
        All XULA home matches through October are being played at UNO because of the installation of a new floor at XULA's Convocation Center. The previous floor was water damaged in August. Most recent projections have the floor work completed in time for men's basketball's home opener Oct. 31 against Crowley's Ridge and for volleyball's Nov. 4 RRAC doubleheader against Louisiana Christian and the RRAC Tournament Nov. 11-12.