NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana
women's volleyball saved five set points Saturday and defeated city rival Loyola 29-27, 25-16, 28-26
to win the championship of the Wolf Pack Welcome tournament at The Den.
The Gold Nuggets finished 4-0 and won every set.
Loyola, IU South Bend and Science and Arts were 2-2 apiece, and Florida Memorial was 0-4.
"I would not have predicted us to win every set,"
XULA head coach
Pat Kendrick said. "But we took care of the ball and met every challenge."
NAIA All-American
Taylor Parker hit .389 with eight kills,
four blocks and five digs for XULA.
Kamea Uitenham had 13 kills, and
Kennedy Campbell and
Kendall Evans had seven kills apiece.
Evans, a freshman in her first collegiate start, hit .750 in eight attacks and had three blocks.
Campbell had four blocks.
Michaela Clayton had 15 digs and
Charity Metcalf 11.
Metcalf produced a double-double with her match-high 21 assists.
For Loyola (5-3), Alexa Palmer had nine kills, and Isis Harink had six kills
and three blocks.
XULA saved two first-set points and clinched with consecutive
kills by Uitenham, Evans and
Sydney Murray. Evans had two kills in a 9-1 run that closed the second set,
and the Gold Nuggets saved three set points after trailing 14-8 in the third.
The 4-0 start is the first in XULA's 18 seasons.
"We pushed through adversity," Parker said. "It's a great start,
and I'm proud to be part of something historical. I hope we keep it going."
Parker was MVP in 2023 as a freshman when XULA won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament,
but the Gold Nuggets lost in the 2024 tournament semifinals to end a streak of 13 consecutive tournament championships
and automatic bids to NAIA nationals.
"Last season was a disappointment," Parker said. "I want another ring."
Next for XULA will be its Big Easy Blastoff at the Convocation Center:
Thursday at 6 p.m. against city rival SUNO, Friday at 6 p.m. against Doane and Saturday at 2 p.m. against Cumberland
and 7 p.m. against Blue Mountain Christian.
