Xavier sweeps Loyola in three sets to extend best start in program history

NEW ORLEANS — Juliana Tomasoni hit .419 with 15 kills and added 10 digs and two aces Friday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-18, 25-21, 25-9 volleyball victory against city rival Loyola at XULA’s Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets extended their winning streak to three, and they’re 4-1 for the first time in the program’s history.

Also recording a double-double for XULA was setter Tiffany Phillips with 21 assists and 11 digs. Phillips and Hasani Salaam served two aces apiece.

Kayla Black had nine kills and seven digs, and Adili Rikondja and Vivica Price-Spraggins had seven kills apiece for XULA. Price-Spraggins had four blocks. Anna Dalla Vecchia had 18 digs. Black, Price-Spraggins and Dalla Vecchia are freshmen, as is Eva Le Guillou, who had 17 assists.

XULA snapped the three-match win streak of Loyola (4-3). Allison Hartmann and Tylar Beckham had six kills apiece for the Wolf Pack, and Elizabeth Scioneaux had 12 digs.

XULA outhit Loyola .337 to .047 and had advantages of 45-24 in kills, 6-1 in aces, 54-41 in digs and 6-3 in blocks.

Loyola leads the series 12-7, but the Gold Nuggets have won seven of the last eight meetings. XULA allowed its second-fewest points in a match to the Wolf Pack and its fewest in a set.

The attendance of 337 was XULA’s highest ever for home opener and the most at home for a non-conference match since October 2004.

Next for XULA will be a 7 p.m. Thursday home match against Spring Hill.