By: Isabel Smith ~Staff Writer~

Conference play continued for the Xavier women’s volleyball team. In the past week, the team hosted two Big East rivals, the DePaul University Blue Demons and the Butler University Bulldogs, at Cintas Center.

Senior Aubree Smith once again has shown dominating performances.

The match against DePaul was a part of Xavier’s “Dig Pink Night.” The event honors those who battled or are currently battling breast cancer.

The team put in an impressive effort and came out on top against the Blue Demons (3-1).
DePaul started out strong with a win in the first set, 25-20. Xavier responded by taking the next three sets, 25-16, 25-17 and 25-22.

In the second frame, Xavier kept its initial lead and eventually held DePaul to 16 points.
The Muskies kept their lead for the entire frame and held an 11-point lead (21-10), their greatest lead of the match, toward the end of the set.

In set three, sophomore Abbey Bessler had an impressive seven kills. Senior Sariah Surydevara had seven digs, and Smith had 17 assists.

The fourth and final set was a close battle.

Neither team led by more than three points.

The Musketeers and Blue Demons were tied at 22 when Xavier scored three unanswered points and ended the match.

In the win over DePaul, Bessler had her third consecutive double-double with 20 kills and 19 digs.

Junior Makalya Agin (13), redshirt sophomore Sofia Peterson (10) and freshman Kristen Massa (10) also recorded double-digit kills.

Xavier played on Oct. 18 against Butler at Cintas Center.

While the Musketeers had a disappointing five-set loss to the Bulldogs, Smith had a notable performance and surpassed a career milestone.

The setter became the first player in Xavier history to pass the 4,000 assist- 1,000 dig mark.
With her career-high 24 digs, 50 assists and four kills, Smith’s career stats stand at 4,356 assists and 1,007 digs.

The Musketeers (12-9, 5-4 Big East) hit the road for their next match against Big East opponent Seton Hall on Oct. 24 in South Orange, N.J