PG 12: Cross Country Runs for Gold
The Xavier Herald
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October 29, 2013 - Novemeber 11, 2013
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, La.
XU Volleyball ‘Kills’ the Competition players—Jodi Chatters, Chinedu Echebelem, Jodi Hill, FranziskaPirkl, Alexandria Rencher and Taylor Reuther— were selected as Capital One Academic All-District nominees. “This year, we set the standards really high, which allowed us to constantly improve,” said Pirkl, “We’ve not only grown as individuals, but a unit.” The team roster also includes: assistant coach Kenneth Marroccoli and players Darian Harris, Destiny Jackson, Kerris Crier, Emily Reuther, CeCe Williams, and Claudia Haywood, and student manager Amanda Ware.
By Whitney Gaston-Loyd Staff Writer
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INSIDE
uperstition says lightning doesn’t strike twice. The Gold Nuggetsvolleyball team, however, is white hot, striking 15times in a row, stunning opponents during their recordshattering season. After a slow start in August, the Nuggets haven’t lost a match since Sept.7. “It feels great knowing my team broke a school record,” junior Moira Kirk said about the team’s 15-match winning streak. “When we play as a team we are basically unstoppable.” Statistically, the Gold Nuggets dominatethe Gulf Coast Athletic Conference as they wrap up the regular season in early November. Since being reactivated in 2010 post-Katrina, the Nuggets clinched the GCAC titles in 2011 and 2012. They hope to retain the title when they travel to Little Rock, Ark., for the tournament Nov. 7-9. In her first year as head coach, Hannah Lawing said maturity,determination and resilience are the glue binding this team together. “Since last year, every player has made a huge change,from the classroom,
PG 3 : ‘Turn Back’
No. 9, CeCe Williams and her teammates earn the right to ‘turn up’ after another GCAC win over cross-town rival SUNO. Taylor Reuther, right, lays up a serve.
Volleyball photo essay pgs. 6-7 to the court, to their personal lives. It’s amazing how they’ve matured,” Lawing said. Six-time player of the week Taylor Reuther feels that an overall change of outlook has propelled a shared growth, allowing the team to perform more efficiently in the face of adversity. “Instead of laying down, letting teams beat us, we learned to stay collected if we’re down a couple points, fight past tough points and win the game,” Reuther said. In October, six
Head coach Hannah Lawing and senior Kerris Crier celebrate senior night with a win.
PG 11:
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