Gold Nuggets receive votes in NAIA volleyball coaches poll

Coaches poll of Sept. 28, 2022

NEW ORLEANS — For the sixth time in the program’s 15-season history, Xavier University of Louisiana is on the radar in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Nuggets are among “others receiving votes” with six points and tied for 40th place with John Brown. Eastern Oregon is No. 1. The NAIA announced the rankings Wednesday.

This is the earliest in a season that XULA received votes.

The five previous Gold Nuggets poll appearances — one in 2021, four in 2019 — also were in the receiving-votes category. Their highest position and most points were in the 2019 postseason poll: 29th place with 33 points.

XULA — 11-2 after its 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 victory Tuesday at city rival Loyola — will travel to Hawkins, Texas, for Red River Athletic Conference matches against Jarvis Christian at 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. XULA is 6-0 in the RRAC and tied for first place with Our Lady of the Lake.

Xavier has a 10-match winning streak, tied for the seventh longest in program history. Five of the eight streaks occurred since Pat Kendrick became head coach in 2017. The XULA record for consecutive victories is 20 in 2013.