William Carey volleyball rallies past Xavier with fourth-set comeback

William Carey rallied from a seven-point deficit in the fourth set to defeat Xavier University of Louisiana 3-1 on Friday night at the Ben Waddle Complex in Hattiesburg.

The Lady Crusaders took the opening set after back-to-back kills by Emily Martin and Rachel Stegall closed out a 1-0 lead. Xavier responded in the second set, using a 13-2 run to pull away for a 25-13 win and tie the match.

Carey regained control in the third set, building an early 9-2 advantage. After Xavier trimmed the margin to 12-8, Carey answered with another 9-2 run. A block by Agnes Hegardt and Reagan Ziegler completed a 25-14 victory and put Carey ahead 2-1.

Xavier led early in the fourth set, but Carey moved in front 9-8. The Gold Nuggets then used a 9-2 surge to take a 17-10 lead and appeared headed to a decisive fifth set.

Instead, Carey produced a 14-2 run that included seven kills and two service aces, turning the deficit into a 24-19 lead. Maurin Reyes finished the comeback with a match-clinching kill in a 25-20 fourth-set victory.

William Carey returns to conference play Saturday against Loyola University. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Ben Waddle Complex.

Source: William Carey Athletics.