Plagued by injuries, Xavier women's hoops adds volleyball player Delaney Hogan to roster

Senior Delaney Hogan believed her time wearing a Xavier jersey was finished after the Musketeers volleyball team wrapped up an 18-12 campaign with a first-round loss to DePaul in the Big East Tournament on Nov. 22.

Hogan, who graduated this semester with degrees in International Studies and Spanish, entered the transfer portal and will play her fifth season of collegiate volleyball elsewhere.

The three-time all-Big East selection and team captain was suddenly back at Cintas Center Friday night as a member of the Xavier women's basketball team.

Xavier, led by first-year head coach Billi Chambers, has dealt with a lot of injuries early in the season. With multiple players sidelined, the Musketeers had to cancel games at Arizona State Dec. 2 and vs. Oakland on Dec. 7. Needing extra bodies, Xavier was able to recruit in-house, adding Hogan to the roster on Thursday.

"I wanted to help them so they didn't have to cancel any more games," Hogan said. "I sat down with her (Chambers) and had a good conversation about the culture of the team and how it's gonna be different. She needed someone who could come in and play."

Hogan's basketball background included a pair of seasons at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as well as several years growing up. She'll add size to the Xavier roster as a 6-foot forward. Hogan, the 2021 Big East Freshman of the Year, led the Musketeers in kills, hitting percentage, points and total blocks last season.

"I'm a good jumper, so I was a good rebounder (in high school)," Hogan said. "I have long arms and can get after the ball."

Hogan has four practices under her belt with the Xavier women's basketball team, participating briefly in shooting drills to start while trying to get a grip on the playbook.

"I haven't gotten too overwhelmed yet. There's a lot more running," Hogan laughed. "The more I watch, the more I understand, like how you shoot from certain spots or the moves you're supposed to make."

Hogan has a family history in basketball with an aunt and uncle who played at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and a cousin who played at St. Francis. She joked with her uncle that they'll need to get in the gym over the Christmas break.

While some athletes wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity to join a winless team in a different sport, Hogan had the interest of others in mind and reflected on her volleyball career with the Musketeers.

"I was thinking about how it was just my senior year. There are international girls over here and they deserve the chance to play," she said. "I have some experience, I'm still in decent shape, so, might as well.

"I know it sounds cheesy, but 'All for One, One for All,' I'm here for you. There's nothing else I really need to do this semester, so let's give this a try."

Xavier women's basketball snaps 28-game losing streak

Xavier women's basketball snapped a 28-game losing streak, which went back to last season's Crosstown Shootout (48-35) on Dec. 9, 2022, on Friday with a 68-43 victory over SIUE.

"It feels great for them. They've been working so hard to get this one," Chambers said. "For them to come together, through the adversity, through people in and out with injuries, losing Shelby Calhoun for the season, it just feels really good for them to get this one off their back."

Xavier, which started 0-8, was led by Aizhanique Mayo, who was eligible to play for the first time as a Musketeer after Wednesday's ruling to allow two-time transfers to suit up. The redshirt freshman had a team-high 14 points. Mayo, an Iona transfer, followed Chambers to Xavier.

"I'm really happy for her (Mayo). Just a great kid who's worked incredibly hard, been through some things and really tried to push hard for her to get the waiver," Chambers said.

Nila Blackford had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double while guard Julia Garcia Roig was in double figures (10) on 4-of-5 shooting. Tae'lor Purvis had 4 points, 6 assists, 4 steals and 7 rebounds. Xavier produced 40 points in the paint (SIUE had 10) and forced 21 turnovers.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier volleyball's Delaney Hogan added to women's basketball roster