COLUMBIA, Mo. — Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball hit .274 Friday — 62 points higher than it did in 2022 — but Columbia (Mo.) hit .423 to roll to a 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 victory against the Gold Nuggets in the CC Hampton Inn Classic.
        It was XULA's season opener. The Cougars, ranked 14th in the NAIA, are 3-0.
        XULA will play three more matches in this two-day event: 4 p.m. Friday against John Brown, then Saturday at 11 a.m. against William Penn and 3 p.m. against NAIA No. 19 Central Methodist.
        Kennedy Wade, Stella Dineva and Sydney Murray had seven kills apiece for XULA. Wade, Murray and Maddie Meyer had five digs apiece. Murray served the Gold Nuggets' only ace, and Taylor Parker produced a match-high five blocks in her collegiate debut.
        Also in XULA debuts were Bengisu Kazazlar with 26 assists and four kills and Kennedi Bell with three kills.
        Allana Capella had 12 kills, and Ellie Rockers and Alayna Rooks had nine apiece for the Cougars. Magdalena Bostal served three aces, Rocker had nine digs, and Luisa Ferreira — chosen NAIA All-America second team a year ago — had 41 assists.
        Columbia used six kills and an ace to take a 7-1 first-set lead. It was 15-all in the second set before the Cougars closed with a 10-3 run that included five XULA errors. It was 18-all in the third set, but Capella had three kills thereafter to complete the sweep.