NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana remains entrenched as the ruler of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women’s volleyball.
The Gold Nuggets won their fourth consecutive GCAC Tournament championship Saturday, beating SUNO 25-9, 25-19, 25-17 at XU’s Convocation Center in a matchup of city rivals and the top two seeds.
Xavier (20-5) earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship and will learn Monday afternoon where it will play in the opening round next weekend.
Tournament MVP CeCe Williams’ second career double-double, 12 kills and 16 digs, led the Gold Nuggets to their 59th consecutive victory against GCAC opponents. Williams, a junior outside hitter, also had two assists and a block.
“This award would not have been possible without my teammates,” Williams said. “Everyone played a part in this championship, and it feels amazing.”
After encountering little resistance in the first set, the Nuggets took command in the second when Williams had five kills to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 15-10 XU lead. A 9-1 run early in the third set helped Xavier reach the sweep.
Xavier Athletics
