Latest Feature Story

Check out Adam Kiefaber's latest feature story on XU tennis standout Doug Matthews. Adam has written several features on Xavier student-athletes and you can find these just to the right of the calendar on GOXAVIER.com.

Also keep your eyes peeled for an article in USA Today that will include a couple quotes from head women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff. USA Today, which owns the coutnry's highest circulation, has ranked the Musketeers in its preseason Top 16. Not bad for a little jesuit school in the Midwest.

Throwback Day

Mark your calendars ... The Xavier men's basketball team will be wearing "throwback" uniforms when it takes on George Washington on February 22. The team will don replicas of the unis it wore during the 1994-95 (Skip Prosser's first year at XU) and 1995-96 (XU's first year in the A-10) seasons.

Anyone know what is unique about these particular uniforms? The first one to post the correct answer will receive ... undying respect from the X blog.

We're Going Streaming

We will be streaming tonight's volleyball match against Middle Tennessee free of charge to fans. Just follow this link and create a free username and password to access the player.

Middle Tennessee enters the match with a 9-1 record and the Lady Raiders are ranked No. 14 in the country.

Another Version of D'Artagnan ... Coming to a Cintas Center Near You

Here are some photos sent to us by the company that will produce the new 20 x 12 x 8 inflatable D'Artagnan mascot. You will see the model being made that will be used as a guide to produce the big guy (also pictured). I was trying to think about what that room reminded me of and then it hit me ... Carl's (Bill Muray) house in Caddyshack when he was making all those fake critters to try and dupe the gopher.

Marketing Announces Halftime Entertainment Lineup

Fan favorite Quick Change will return to perform at halftime on December 3 as Xavier faces Auburn. Quick Change has been voted the #1 Halftime Act in the NBA.

Making their return to Cintas Center for the first time in three years is The Red Panda Acrobat. Red Panda will perform her unicycle bowl flipping act on New Year’s Eve (December 31) when Xavier battles Robert Morris. Red Panda rides a seven foot unicycle, kicks several bowls at a time into the air and lands them in an ever-growing and wobbly stack of bowls on her head. Each successive flip is done with a greater number of bowls. You have to love the music and how surprised and happy she looks when she successully flips the bowls on her head. Outstanding.

John Casey and his high flying Frisbee catching Hyperdogs will return to Cintas Center the weekend of February 14-15. The Hyperdogs will perform at halftime of the men’s basketball game versus Fordham and return the following day on Sunday to perform again at halftime of the women’s game against Dayton. The Hyperdogs have been seen on ESPN, Animal Planet and Fox and Friends, to name a few.

More halftime entertainment, giveaways and promotions will be released later.

Mack On Atlantic 10 Web Site Called College Chalk Talk

There is a question and answer session with Xavier assistant coach Chris Mack on the College Chalk Talk web site:

http://collegechalktalk.com/five-questions/five-questions-xavier-university-assistant-coach-chris-mack/#respond

Posey Enjoying An Extended Stay In Cincinnati

Two-time NBA Champion and 1999 Xavier graduate James Posey arrived in town yesterday prior to tonight's Hall of Fame festivities that will honor him as well as former volleyball star Sara Bachus and former athletic director Jeff Fogelson. "It's a great honor. I'm not sure it's really sunk in yet." Posey's group that will be in attendance tonight will include Posey's father. Posey made it just in time late yesterday afternoon to play with the men's basketball players during open gym time at Cintas Center. Although Jamel McLean got some bragging rights by blocking back-to-back three-point attempts in one game, Posey clearly showed why he is a valuable part of any team he plays for at any level. Senior B.J. Raymond was one of Posey's teammates and hit almost every shot he took yesterday. Posey worked out at Cintas Center today with XU assistant coach Chris Mack.

Posey's new team this year (New Orleans) includes former XU star, 2003 XU graduate and National Player of the Year David West. He said he hasn't been able to make any progress on a move to New Orleans due to the recent weather there and the impending back weather headed towards his main area of residence in Texas.

There will be a video interview with Posey on GoXavier.com this weekend.

New A-10 Boss In Town

New Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade stopped by Xavier yesterday and today as part of her tour around to every A-10 school. Before leaving this afternoon, she met with Xavier President Michael Graham, S.J., Associate VP and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski, both head basketball coaches and some other University administrators. "She had a great visit," said Bobinski, "and said she was very impressed."

Women's Basketball League Schedule to be Announced Later Today

The Atlantic 10 has announced that it will release Xavier's 14-game league schedule sometime this afternoon. We will have it up on GOXAVIER.com as soon as it is released.

Women's Hoops Ranked 21st By Athlon

The Xavier University women's basketball team has been ranked No. 21 nationally in Athlon's preseason poll. XU is the only team from the A-10 in the poll and is the only team to make the poll that does not play in one of the "Big Six" conferences. XU will play Louisville (No. 10), Arizona State (No. 8) and Michigan State (No. 23) and could play Oklahoma (No. 7) and North Carolina (No. 12) in the Preseason WNIT.

1. Connecticut
2. California
3. Stanford
4. Texas A&M
5. Duke
6. Maryland
7. Oklahoma
8. Arizona State
9. Tennessee
10. Louisville
11. Rutgers
12. North Carolina
13. Ohio State
14. Texas
15. Old Dominion
16. Vanderbilt
17. Oklahoma State
18. Virginia
19. Kansas State
20. Florida State
21. Xavier
22. Auburn
23. Michigan State
24. Utah
25. Pittsburgh

Volleyball's Hillary Otte Earns National Recognition

The honors keep piling up for junior volleyball standout Hillary Otte. The rightside hitter was honored as the MVP of the Ohio State Sports Imports Classic after leading XU to the title over the weekend and she was also honored as as one of 10 Top Performers by Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU).

The volleyball team will open the home portion of its schedule on September 9 when Western Kentucky visits Cintas Center at 7 p.m.

CVU.com Top Performers

Hillary Otte, Xavier, Junior, Right side, 6-0

Angie Porche, Valparaiso, Junior, Outside hitter, 5-8

Julie Rubenstein, Pepperdine, Senior, Outside hitter, 6-3

Megan Argabright, Western Kentucky, Senior, Middle hitter, 6-1

Yarimar Rosa, Florida International, Junior, Outside hitter, 5-10

Caitlyn Vann, Missouri, Sophomore, Defensive specialist, 5-6

Allison Nieters, Iona, Sophomore, Libero, 5-9

Jessica Walters, UNLV, Junior, Outside hitter, 5-9

Allison Raguse, Northern Colorado, Junior, Middle blocker, 6-0

Ashley Asberry, Middle Tennessee State, Senior, Middle blocker, 5-9

Strong Finish by the Men's Golf Team in Pa.

The Xavier men's golf team struggled a bit during the first two rounds of Penn State's Rutherford Invitational, but the team really played well in Tuesday's final round. Here is the recap.

Freshman Sebastian MacLean (who will represent Bolivia in the World Team Championship this October in Australia) fired a one-under par 71. MacLean holds 15 Bolivian national championships and the team looks forward to him wearing an "X" on his polo for the next four years.

MacLean must feel right at home with the weather we have been having in Cincinnati.