Gr8ness: Nuggets win GCAC, qualify for nationals again

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana scored 21 of the first 22 points Saturday and rolled to a 25-3, 25-12, 25-11 volleyball victory against Tougaloo in the championship match of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at SUNO's The Castle. The Gold Nuggets (26-6) won the tournament for the eighth consecutive year and received the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship tournament, which will begin next weekend. XULA will learn of its opponent and destination Monday.

Tournament MVP Kayla Black led the top-seeded Gold Nuggets with 17 kills. Black hit .412 in 34 attacks and had two aces and 12 digs. Jaida Dowd had 10 kills and hit .348 for XULA, Adili Rikondja had six kills and hit .400, and Angele McClain had five kills and hit .714. Rikondja and Beatrice Formilan were XULA's other all-tournament selections. Formilan had a match-high 18 digs.

The victory was XULA's third in 10 days against Tougaloo, second to the Gold Nuggets in the regular season and the No. 2 seed. Xavier will travel to play 22nd-ranked Corban at 6 p.m. PST Saturday in the 2018 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. The NAIA announced Monday the tournament bracket and pairings, which include 44 teams and 12 matches this weekend.XULA.