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Dayton women’s volleyball defeats rival Xavier to improve to 6-1
Flyers outside hitter Mahalia Swink participates in the warm up before taking on Xavier March 9. (Courtesy: Dayton Athletics)

Dayton women’s volleyball defeats rival Xavier to improve to 6-1

CINCINNATI (BVM) — On Tuesday, the battle of I-75 took place in the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier University. For both these volleyball teams, this match was more than just a game. Xavier and Dayton have been rivals for years, but have not been able to compete on the court against each other since 2017. 

Additionally, the Musketeers have not beaten the Flyers in 10 years. The last “W” for Xavier women’s volleyball against Dayton was Nov. 4, 2011.

Xavier came into the game 4-4, while the Flyers were 5-1. This was not a conference match, as Dayton is part of the A-10 and Xavier is in the Big East. Going into the game, players to watch included Flyers’ outside hitters Jamie Peterson and Mahalia Swink, and Musketeers’ outsider hitter Kelly Franxman, as well as middle blocker Ellie Chaffee. 

Although Dayton was favored to win, the first set proved anything but that. Early into the match, Xavier kept up with the Flyers, keeping the score tied. After a kill by Musketeers’ right side Carrigan O’Reilly and an ace by Franxman, Xavier was up 14-10 and confidence was present on the court. 

Dayton was not ready to give up yet, as senior setter Bridget Doherty led the team with serves that caught the Flyers up to pace. After Swink gained a kill for Dayton and made the match 18-16, Xavier answered with three kills by Franxman and middle blockers Delaney Hogan and Jayda Carlton. 

At 20-19, the Musketeers had the opportunity to take the first set. Unfortunately, the odds did not work in their favor, as middle blocker Chaffee faulted a serve at game point for Dayton. 

With the Flyers up one set, Xavier still had the chance to be in the game. Chaffee returned back in the game, starting out with a big kill, giving Xavier the lead. After two aces by Franxman, the Musketeers were up 6-2. Before Xavier could become comfortable, the Flyers responded with two aces from Peterson and two kills by Swink.

At 9-9, the match was far from being an upset. Dayton took advantage of the run and capitalized with multiple kills by setter Doherty and middle blocker Amelia Moore. While the Flyers were on top, Xavier’s Franxman was on fire with several kills, but it just was not good enough to stop Dayton from gaining points. 

After Flyer’s hitter Peterson made a few more hits, it was game point for set two. Musketeers’ Franxman made an attack error, causing Dayton to be one match away from a sweep.

Set three started out with Dayton libero Lexie Almodovar and Peterson collecting the first two points. The match seemed to be in deep water for Xavier before the team gathered together and regained stability with a kill by middle blocker Hogan and a kill and an ace by Chaffee. At 10-10, the Musketeers had the opportunity to stay in the game and force a set four. 

Xavier took the momentum they built forcing a one-point lead, 16-15, after outside hitter Mackenzie Mangette hit three kills. Even though this kept the Musketeers in the game, it was not long before Dayton came through and led the game to game point. At 24-20, Xavier halted the first game winner attempt after receiving a tough Dayton serve.

The score of 24-21 had the court full of nerves as the Musketeers had the chance to take over the set. For the game, Dayton setter Doherty passed the ball to middle blocker Lindsey Winner to complete the series. 

With a 3-0 sweep over Xavier, the Flyers moved on to 6-1 and will take on Davidson Friday, March 12.

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