SUNO rallies past Gold Nuggets at The Barn
September 7, 2010

     NEW ORLEANS — Freshmen Veronica Azubuike and Wynieka Anderson had 11 kills and four aces apiece Tuesday to rally SUNO to a 22-25, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22, 15-11 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory over Xavier University of Louisiana at The Barn.
     The victory was just the second in 22 matches for SUNO's 2-year-old program. It was the GCAC opener for both teams.
     The Lady Knights (1-1) rallied from an 18-16 deficit to win the fourth set, then took an 11-4 advantage in the fifth. Xavier (2-2) closed to 11-10 before Anderson served consecutive aces to help SUNO clinch first-year Coach Naomi Washington's first victory.
     Freshman Sierra Lyons had 20 kills, the most by a Xavier player this season. Lyons' kill put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay 22-21 in the first set, and she clinched the set and capped a 6-1 run with another kill.
     SUNO served 15 aces, seven more than Xavier, and denied the Gold Nuggets a school-record third consecutive victory.
     Xavier will play twice at The Barn on Saturday — 1 p.m. against GCAC opponent Tougaloo and 4 p.m. against NCAA Division I member Mississippi Valley. Tougaloo will play Mississippi Valley at 2:30 p.m.