Paul Quinn Battles but Falls to Xavier (La.) in Straight Sets
Austin, Texas – September 5, 2025 Paul Quinn volleyball showed grit and flashes of strong play but ultimately fell to a powerful Xavier (La.) squad in three sets (25–23, 25–15, 25–22) Friday evening at Branch Gymnasium in Austin. Despite the sweep, the Tigers competed closely in two of the three frames, highlighted by efficient hitting and scrappy defense.
Set One: Neck-and-Neck Fight
The Tigers came out swinging, hitting .279 in the opening set. Carrie Weston and Jayden Jones combined for 11 kills, while setter Laila Morrison distributed 14 assists to keep Xavier on its heels. Paul Quinn held leads late in the frame before the Gold Nuggets closed it out 25–23 behind a late surge.
Set Two: Xavier Pulls Away
Xavier (8–3) found its rhythm in the second set, capitalizing on Tiger attack errors while showcasing an explosive offense led by Taylor Parker (14 kills, .765). Paul Quinn struggled to stay in system, hitting -.088 as the Nuggets built an early lead and never looked back, winning 25–15.
Set Three: Strong Response
Paul Quinn regrouped and nearly forced a fourth set, hitting .257 in the third. Weston finished with a team-high 10 kills, while Jones added 8 kills at an impressive .500 clip. Laila Beck contributed 6 kills, and Makaila Piggee chipped in 3 while anchoring the block with 3 assists. A late rally brought the Tigers within striking distance, but Xavier held on for a 25–22 finish.
Paul Quinn Leaders
- Carrie Weston – 10 kills, 10.0 points
- Jayden Jones – 8 kills, .500 hitting, 8.5 points
- Laila Beck – 6 kills, 7.5 points
- Spirit Phipps – 16 assists, 5 digs
- Kaylin Chambers – 12 digs
- Ashely Sanchez – 10 digs, 1 ace
By the Numbers
- Hitting %: Xavier .295 | Paul Quinn .161
- Kills: Xavier 53 | Paul Quinn 33
- Digs: Xavier 56 | Paul Quinn 47
- Blocks: Xavier 7 | Paul Quinn 10 (team total w/ assists)
Takeaway
Though the loss dropped Paul Quinn to 2–7 on the season, the Tigers proved they could push a nationally respected Xavier squad, especially in the first and third sets. With Weston and Jones leading the attack and Chambers steady in the back row, Paul Quinn continues to show competitive growth as they head deeper into non-conference play.