SALINA, Kan. — Ruxandra Flueras reached a defensive milestone Saturday, and Xavier University of Louisiana women’s volleyball kept the good times going in a 25-16, 25-18, 16-25, 25-17 victory against Stephens at the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic.
The Gold Nuggets (3-9 overall, 2-2 tournament) won twice on the tournament’s final day. They entered Saturday with nine consecutive losses, two Friday.
Next for XULA will be a Red River Athletic Conference two-match series against Texas A&M-Texarkana at the Convocation Center — 6 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
Flueras had 17 digs against the Stars to surpass 2,000 in her career. The fifth-year libero from Chieri, Italy, has 2,009 digs — 536 in two seasons with XULA and 1,473 in three seasons with Colby (Kan.) Community College. Last season Flueras’ 5.09 digs per set were a XULA season record and the best in the Red River in the last five seasons.
Taylor Parker had 11 kills, a season high, and six blocks for the Gold Nuggets. Producing double-doubles were Laila Person with 10 kills and 10 digs and Bengisu Kazazlar with 29 assists and 11 digs. Stella Dineva had nine kills and two blocks, and Kennedy Campbell had eight kills, three blocks and eight digs.
XULA ended the match with a 13-4 run. Person clinched with a kill. The Gold Nuggets outhit the Stars .200 to .104.
Makenna Bollinger hit .368 with a career-high nine kills for Stephens (2-7).
Source: XULA Athletics/xulagold.com
