COLUMBIA, Mo. — Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball got match highs of 14 kills from Kennedy Wade and seven blocks from Taylor Parker to defeat William Penn 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-18 Saturday in the CC Hampton Inn Classic.
        The Gold Nuggets (2-1) earned their second consecutive victory after losing in three sets to Columbia (Mo.) to open the tournament Friday.
        XULA closed with an 8-1 run, and Stella Dineva's ace ended the match.
        XULA lost in three sets to William Penn at the 2022 Grand View Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
        Wade also had 11 digs, and she, Dineva and Bengisu Kazazlar served three aces apiece. Parker had 11 kills. Maddie Meyer had 17 digs, Sydney Murray had nine kills, five aces and three blocks, Kennedi Bell had seven kills, and Kazazlar had 41 assists.
        Alyssa Young had nine kills and four blocks, and Jade Melton served six aces for William Penn (1-4), which finished 1-3 in this event.
        XULA committed 37 total errors, eight more than William Penn, but compensated for that with advantages of 49-38 in kills, 15-12 in aces, 52-45 in digs and 9-8 in blocks. The Gold Nuggets outhit the Statesmen .176 to .162.
        XULA will play NAIA No. 19 Central Methodist at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday in the Gold Nuggets' fourth and final match of the tournament. The Gold Nuggets will play their first home match Sept. 8.