Coach Kris Dorn's Clarke University men's volleyball team opened its 2012 campaign at home Friday with a 3-1 Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference victory over St. Xavier University.

Clarke, ranked seventh in this year's NAIA Top 10 preseason poll, won 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19.

Travis Gabehart hit .364 and had 12 kills, six digs and 3 blocks for the Crusaders, while Tyler Wills added 11 kills and nine digs. Wills finished with a match-high 14.5 points, while Gabehart had 13.5 points.

Justin Mullady added nine kills and Bobby Springer hit .467 with seven kills.

Clarke's Joe Kosciw had a match-high 39 assists. Kosciw and Kevin Murphy each had eight digs.

Aaron Porter led St. Xavier (0-1, 0-1 MAMVIC) with 12 kills, eight digs and three blocks.

Clarke will return to action on Jan. 21 when the Crusaders travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to face Cardinal Stricth University in MAMVIC play.