HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey Volleyball Team bounced back from a tough loss to UT-Southern on Saturday with a thrilling five set victory over Xavier University (La.) Tuesday evening at the Ben Waddle Complex.
 
After going back and forth early in the first set, the Gold Nuggets slowly pulled away to a 15-8 advantage. The Lady Crusaders slowed the run and with the help of a couple of attack errors, a kill by Emerald Owens, and an ace by Zoie Mitchell, cut the deficit to three.
 
XULA quickly answered, stretching their lead to 18-12 with three straight points but Carey once again fought their way back to within two points this time at 19-17. That would be as close as WCU would get, as Xavier pulled away for good behind a 6-2 run to take the first set.
 
Carey came out swinging in set number two, taking the first four points before building a 10-4 lead. WCU maintained a comfortable lead with the score 22-17 until Xavier made a late attempt at a rally cutting the deficit to 22-20. WCU quickly shut down any hope of a comeback, closing the set with a kill and an ace by Gabriela Maceira with an attack sealing the win.
 
The Lady Crusaders followed suit to start the third set, opening with four kills, a service ace, and a block to go along with two errors to take an early 8-3 lead. The same as the previous set, Carey maintained a comfortable lead until the Gold Nuggets rallied late, cutting the deficit to two at 24-22. A kill by Mitchell shut down the rally to put WCU ahead 2-1.
 
Set four was nothing like the earlier sets, and both teams took turns with the lead with neither leading by more than two points until XULA took a 20-17 lead. After trading points, the Lady Crusaders picked up kills by Maceira and Agnes Hegardt and an ace from Maurin Reyes to tie the set at 21 all. That was the last time the set was tied, as the Gold Nuggets went on a 4-1 run to close the set and force the deciding the fifth set.
 
In the final set, trailing 4-3, Carey took the lead with three straight points and then ran away with the set, closing on a 9-1 run for the victory. Seven of the points came off kills.
 
Carey returns to action Friday, October 10, as they take on Faulkner University in SSAC play. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the Ben Waddle Complex.