By: Donnie Menke ~Staff Writer~

The last two weeks for the volleyball team saw an even 2-2 record in Big East play.

On Sept. 30, the Musketeers dropped a match to Creighton at Cintas, losing 3-0 and dropping to 7-9 (1-2). They lost the first set 25- 18, the second set 25-23 and the third set 25-15.

Senior Abbey Bessler led the team with eight kills. Senior Sophia Peterson and junior Kristen Massa both had seven kills each, good for the second most on the team.

Junior Mackenzi Humm led the team with 14 assists while sophomore McKenna Estes chipped in with 12 assists.

The next game for the team, which took place on Oct. 1 at Cintas, proved to be a rebound, as the Musketeers dominated Providence, improving to 8-9 (2-2) by winning in three sets, 25-7, 25-15 and 26-24.

Once again Bessler led the team in kills, this time getting nine of them. Peterson was second to Bessler with eight kills, and Massa and sophomore Alexis Newsome each had seven kills. Estes led the team in assists with 18. Humm was not far behind, however, as she finished the match with 17 assists.

The team then traveled to Milwaukee, Wisc., to take on Marquette on Oct. 5. The match ended in another 3-0 defeat for Xavier and dropped its record to 8-10 (2-3). However, this match was much closer than the one against Creighton, as Xavier only lost 25-20, 25-20 and 26- 24. Peterson led the team in kills this match, netting 13. Bessler had the second most, recording eight. Humm led the team in assists again, as she had 22 over the course of the match. Estes had the second most with 11.

After the loss against Marquette, the Musketeers traveled to Indianapolis, looking to rebound against the Butler Bulldogs. They did just that, taking the match in five sets, winning 3-2 and improving to 9-10 (3-3). The scores of each set were 20- 25, 25-22, 25-13, 24-26 and 15-12. Bessler and Peterson once again led the team in kills, with 22 and 17, respectively. It also matched a career high for Peterson. Senior Brooke Betts also finished with eight kills.

Humm led the team in assists yet again, this time with 26. Estes was right behind her, this time with 22.

The Musketeers travel to Chicago next to take on DePaul at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12.