Volleyball Falls To Xavier In BIG EAST Opener

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Providence College volleyball team fell in its BIG EAST opener to Xavier, 3-2. The Friars won the first two sets before the Musketeers rallied to take the final three, 25-19, 25-18, 26-28, 21-25, 14-16. Providence moves to 12-2, 0-1 in the BIG EAST while Xavier improves to 6-5, 1-0 in the BIG EAST.

FIRST SET HIGHLIGHTS- After a back and forth beginning to the set where it was tied eleven times, the Friars went on a run to build a 25-19 lead late in the set.

Shaliyah Rhoden (Rowlett, Texas) and Maryanne Boyle (Blacklick, Ohio) each had a team-high three kills. Rhoden carried a .231 hitting percentage on 13 total attacks and Boyle recorded a .250 hitting percentage on eight total attacks.

Allison Barber (Woodbury, Minn.) recorded a set-high 10 assists.

Sasha Rudich (Austin, Texas) tallied three block assists.

The Friars held the Musketeers to a .079 hitting percentage and recorded four total team blocks.

SECOND SET HIGHLIGHTS- Providence jumped out to a 5-2 run to begin the set and held the lead for the remainder of the set. The Friars went on to win the set, 25-18.

Jennifer Leitman (Irvine, Calif.) and Emma Fink (Western Springs, Ill.) led the Friars in kills with four each.

Barber registered a set-high 13 assists.

Mackenzie Taylor (Holbrook, N.Y.) led the Friars with seven digs.

THIRD SET HIGHLIGHTS- The third set was also a back-and-forth affair. The set consisted of 14 tie scores and four lead changes. Xavier eventually kept the lead and took the set, 28-26.

Boyle registered four kills on six total attacks.

Barber tallied 13 assists.

Taylor had a set-high 10 digs.

FOURTH SET HIGHLIGHTS- Xavier jumped out to a 11-2 lead to begin the set. The Musketeers maintained the lead throughout and claimed the set, 25-21.

Emma Nelson (West Chester, Pa.) and Rhoden led the Friars with four kills each.

Barber recorded a set-high 10 assists with three digs.

Taylor tallied seven digs in the set.

FIFTH SET HIGHLIGHTS- Xavier took the lead early in the set, 5-3. The Friars battled back to tie the score six times, including three lead changes, before the Musketeers took the set 16-14.

Nelson recorded a team-high kills on nine total attacks.

Barber registered team-highs in both assists (6) and digs (3).

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Barber secured her ninth double-double on the season with 52 kills and 12 digs.

Five Friars recorded double-digit digs in the match, with Taylor recording a team-high 27 digs.

As a team, the Friars recorded 67 kills on 217 total attacks, 99 digs, 60 assists and eight total team blocks.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Friar will match up against the Butler Bulldogs tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4:00 p.m.bin Indianapolis, Ind.to conclude their opening BIG EAST weekend.

-GO FRIARS-

Next Event

Team Stats

Emma Nelson

Shaliyah Rhoden

Emma Fink

Sasha Rudich

Players Mentioned

Allison Barber

Maryanne Boyle

Emma Fink

Jennifer Leitman

Emma Nelson

Shaliyah Rhoden

Sasha Rudich

Mackenzie Taylor

Players Mentioned

Allison Barber

Maryanne Boyle

Emma Fink

Jennifer Leitman

Emma Nelson

Shaliyah Rhoden

Sasha Rudich

Mackenzie Taylor

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Central Connecticut on September 12, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Merrimack on September 13, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Holy Cross on September 13, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Alabama State on September 19, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Tulane University on September 19, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at New Orleans on September 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM (ET)

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Marquette on September 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM (ET)

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at DePaul University on September 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM (ET)

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus St. John's on October 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Seton Hall on October 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM

Providence College Athletics