Thelen, Koska, Gasser Excel in Pirate Setback

Friday, October 26

Cincinnati, OH / Cintas Center

7:00 PM

Seton Hall University

8-17 (3-8BIG EAST)

Xavier

8-15 (6-6BIG EAST)

Seton Hall

Xavier

10/26/2018 10:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

CINCINNATI, OHIO – Three Pirates had at least 13 kills, and the Seton Hall women's volleyball team had more digs and a higher attack percentage, but ultimately fell to Xavier, 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 20-25), on Friday.

Senior Abby Thelen (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.) had a match-high 16 kills to go with four blocks. Senior Caitlin Koska (Franklin, Wis.) had a double-double with 14 kills and a career-high 16 digs. Junior Haylee Gasser (Mission Viejo, Calif.) matched her career-high with 13 kills, set a career-high with seven digs and notched four blocks.

SET 1:
The first set was close throughout with neither team grabbing a lead of greater than four points. Clinging to a slim, 21-19 lead, Xavier scored back-to-back points to go up by four and force a Seton Hall timeout. The Pirates were unable to recover, and fell, 25-21. Xavier connected at a match-high .292 attack percentage in the first set.

SET 2:
Seton Hall came out strong in set two, scoring seven of the first nine points. The Musketeers however, methodically rallied, and eventually jumped ahead, growing their lead to 18-15. Down 21-18, the Pirates erupted for a 6-0 run, and blocks by Thelen and Gasser put them in set point, 24-21. After Xavier got a point back, Gasser provided the exclamation point with a kill to win set two, 25-22.

SET 3:
Xavier led the third set wire-to-wire, starting the frame with a 12-3 spurt. Another 6-0 run by the Musketeers mid-way through the set gave them their largest lead of the match, 21-8. Remarkably, the Pirates didn't go away easily, and responded with a 12-1 run. Blocks by Thelen and Amanda Rachwal (Bethlehem, Pa.) cut the Xavier lead to just two points, 22-20. The Musketeers regrouped though, and scored the last three points of the set to win, 25-20, and take a 2-1 match lead. Xavier won the set despite the Pirate defense holding the Musketeers to a .000 attack percentage.

SET 4:
Back-to-back attack errors by Xavier enabled the Pirates to cut their deficit to two points, 13-11. The Musketeers however, bounced back with a 6-0 run, extending their advantage to 19-11. Trailing 21-13, The Hall scored five of the next six points to again cut into the Xavier lead, 22-18. But the Musketeers ultimately held on for a 25-20 set four victory.

Inside the Numbers:

Thelen had a match-high 16 kills to go with four blocks.
Koska had 14 kills and a career-high 16 digs.
Gasser tied her career-high with 13 kills and set a career-high with seven digs. She also had four blocks.
Senior Sophia Coffey (Sierra Madre, Calif.) nearly had a double-double, finishing with a match-high 43 assists, eight digs and a season-high three blocks.
Freshman Eden Dolezal (La Porte, Ind.) had a team-high 17 digs.
Seton Hall recorded a .176 attack percentage for the match, while Xavier attacked at .169.
Both teams recorded 53 kills.
The Pirates totaled 70 team digs, while Xavier had 65.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall falls to 8-17 overall and 3-9 in the BIG EAST, while Xavier improves to 8-15 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
The Pirates are now 3-9 all-time against Xavier and were swept in the 2018 season series.
The Pirates fall to 1-6 in four-set matches.
Thelen reached the 15-kill mark for the eighth time this season and the 31^st time in her career.
Coffey reached the 40-assist mark for the fourth time this season and the 19^th time in her career.
It's the first time this season that Seton Hall has tied its opponent in kills (53).
Koska's double-double is her eighth of the season.

Up Next:
The Pirates will return to action tomorrow when it travels to Indianapolis for a BIG EAST contest at Butler. Match time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.