Temple University Athletics
Xavier Ends Temple's Reign as Atlantic 10 Champions
11.18.00 | Women's Volleyball
Dayton, Ohio - For the Temple volleyball team the season is not over, in fact there are two matches remaining on the schedule. But all hopes of earning a fourth straight Atlantic 10 crown were dashed when the Owls lost to Xavier three games to one in the semi-finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. The games scores were 10-15, 15-13, 11-15 and 2-15 for Temple who is now 18-10 overall and 13-3 in the conference.
Senior All-America candidate and the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Alma Kovaci led Temple with a match-high 34 kills and 26 digs. Also posting a double-double was senior Maria Vutskova (19 kills, 14 digs) and setting things up for Temple were setters Teresa Schumacher (36 assists) and Solana Lee (29 assists). Despite those numbers, the Owls were out-hit .308 to .170 for the match and hitting .000 in the fourth and final game.
Xavier had four players record double-doubles led by Sara Bachus with 21 kills and 23 digs. Katey Wygant (18 kills, 11 digs), Gina Geraci (16 kills, 19 digs) and Jill Hampton (18 kills, 28 digs) were also proficient as the Musketeers beat the Owls for the second time in less than a month. However, the consequences of this loss were far greater for Temple. Xavier will now face George Washington tomorrow in the Atlantic 10 final.
Next up for Temple, the final two road matches to close out the season against Central Florida (Friday, November 24 at 5:00 p.m.) and vs. Fairfield at Central Florida (Saturday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m.).
