PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana College volleyball team made its Red River Athletic Conference debut against another team playing its first RRAC match, and a quick start wasn't enough for the Wildcats to overcome Xavier, dropping the match to the Gold Nuggets 3-1 (25-20, 14-25, 16-25, 18-25) Saturday afternoon at the Pineville High School Field House.
 
The Wildcats couldn't have asked for a quicker start to the match as LC jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set on the efforts of a kill by Aniah Adams and blocks by Kierra Jones and Paris Babino. Following a bit of back-and-forth action, LC really opened up the score with a run of six-out-of-seven points scored by the Wildcats which was started by a Sadi Jones kill, included some big play at the net with blocks by Sadi and Katie Spell, and a service ace by I'Nyah Kately. Katie Spell's kill through a Xavier block attempt ended the run and at that point had LC doubling up the Gold Nuggets 16-8 in the set. Xavier didn't let the Wildcats run away with the first set, however, as the Gold Nuggets used an eight-out-of-nine point run to get back in the match at 21-20 LC. But an attack error by Xavier helped give LC the momentum it needed to close out the set as kills by Said Jones and Katie Spell put the Wildcats on set point, and then I'Nyah Kately finished off the set with another service ace for the 25-20 win and 1-0 lead in the match.
 
But the momentum of the set win was short lived as Xavier broke set two open early. Sadi Jones got a kill to tie the set at 1-1, but the Gold Nuggets scored the next six straight and ten of the next 12 overall to take an 11-3 lead. LC would try to mount a rally, but every effort was quickly halted and Xavier went on to take set two 25-14 to tie the match at 1-1.
 
Xavier jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set, but the Wildcats pulled that back thanks to kills from Jaslyn Bright and Sadi Jones to tie the set at 3-3. The Wildcats and Gold Nuggets went point-for-point over the next few rallies, only to see Xavier go on a 12-6 run to turn a 5-5 tie to a 17-11 lead for the Gold Nuggets. LC got it back to 17-13 following a service ace by Sadi Jones, but Xavier pulled away late to win 25-16 and take the 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The fourth set was very back-and-forth for the most part with points matched by points and little runs for one side equaled by little runs for the other team. A kill by Kierra Jones tied the set at 14-14 and a set error by Xavier gave the Wildcats a 15-14 lead. But it was Xavier that was able to close out the match as a three-point run by the Gold Nuggets gave Xavier the lead for good and Xavier closed out the match scoring 11 of the final 14 points for the 25-18 set score and close out the match 3-1.
 
Sadi Jones was all over the court for the Wildcats, leading the team in kills with nine, had a service ace, an assist, four blocks, and nine digs. Kierra Jones had eight kills and three blocks. Aniah Adams had seven kills and a block assist. Jaslyn Bright finished the match with six kills and five digs. Paris Babino had 32 of LC's 36 assists as well as eight digs. Leah Stamps had a team-high 11 digs.
 
The Wildcats (0-2, 0-1 RRAC) look to get some positive momentum going on Monday with an exhibition match against Pearl River Community College. The next regular season match will be on Wednesday in Shreveport against Centenary. Opening serve against the Ladies (6-6) is set for 6:00 P.M. at the Gold Dome.