Eden Ramos passed 2,000 career assists in the loss to Xavier. |
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Charlotte Opens League Play With First Home Loss of Season to Xavier
Sept. 22, 2006
Charlotte, N.C. - Two players reached career milestones but it was not enough as Charlotte was handed its first home loss in seven matches in a four-game (30-24, 21-30, 30-23, 30-24) match at the hands of Xavier on Friday night at Halton Arena. The match was the first Atlantic 10 Conference decision for both schools. Charlotte drops to 10-6, with a 6-1 mark at home. Xavier evens its record to 7-7.
Charlotte setter Eden Ramos (Tampa, Fla.) eclipsed the 2,000 career assist mark for the Niners, while outside hitter Jessica Oldenburg (Belle Plaine, Minn.) cracked the 1,000 kill plateau for her career in the match. Both efforts went for naught in the loss.
Both teams played it close to a seven-all tie when the Musketeers went on a short run of three points on a pair of Danielle Skrajewski kills. Xavier never looked back to the 30-24 victory in the opening frame. Skrajewski tied two other players for match-high honors with 18 kills.
Game two was all Niners from the start. Charlotte surged to a 7-3 open in the second frame and extended the lead to 17-9 on eight straight serves from libero Carly Romberg (Aurora, Colo.). Two of the serves in that sequence were of Charlotte's three aces on the night.
Xavier jumped out to a 7-3 lead in game three and never looked back. Middle Jill Quayle was stout in the third frame, netting four of her 18 kills for the visitors.
Game four was the closest game of the match for the longest period of time, but the Xavier offense was fluid, putting down more balls as the team finished with 70 kills and a better attack percentage. Dishing out the match-high 62 assists was Xavier setter Jenn Walsh, who distributed the ball well in the conference opener.
"We would get our serve back, but then serve into the net, which was frustrating," said Charlotte head coach Lisa Marston.
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"Hitting .270 against a good team is great. We worked hard on our blocking and passing and that part went well. Our outsides had a great night. It's just a shame we couldn't serve a little better."
Charlotte's Alma Arroyo was the third player with 18 kills. Ramos finished with 50 assists on the night. Five players on each team had double-digit digs. Charlotte's Romberg led then all with 15, while Xavier's Lauren Kaminsky had the Musketeers high with 13. Oldenburg and Quayle each had six blocks for their respective teams.
The Niners continue the home stand Sunday afternoon, with a visit from the defending league champion Dayton Flyers for a 1 p.m. match.
