Tuesday, September 13- Robert Morris University
This was a big game for the Cougars as not only was it away, but it was against conference rival Robert Morris University. Despite everything on the line of this contest, SXU did not shrink as they won the match 3 sets to 0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-16 respectively). As the scores demonstrates, SXU had no trouble winning this game whatsoever. Coming out in set one, SXU went on a 11-1 run to finish off the set. Eight of these points came off kills which shows RMU had no answer for the Cougars size.
In set two, It was much of the same story with SXU dominating the game due to their size. Set three, saw RMU show some fight as they came out with a 4-1 run in the beginning, but were unable to retain it as SXU stormed back and won. As a team, SXU totaled 44 kills with only 99 service errors totaling their second-highest hitting percentage of .364. Key contributors were setter Courtney Joyce who totaled 36 assists, senior Bridget Krasowski who had nine kills and nine digs, and senior Kate Bontrager who collected 12 digs and eight kills, simply dominating the competition.
With this win, the Cougars now sit at a record of 12-3. The Cougars are hitting on all cylinders as a team as of late, and this effortless win over their conference rival should tell other teams that they should have a lot to be worried about for the rest of the season.
Friday September 15- Trinity Christian College
Another away game vs. a conference rival, and another win for the Cougars as they beat Trinity Christian College 3 sets to 1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-20, 25-22). Both teams battled back-and-forth throughout the 1 set.
TCC led 19-15 and looked poised to take the win, but SXU stormed back with a 9-4 run to close out with a win. In set two, TCC came back with a vengeance closing out the game with an 11-7 run, making sure that SXU didn’t make any more miraculous late game runs.
Set three, saw TCC take an early 5-0 victory. Despite the hot start, SXU was able to tie up. From here, the two teams traded points for much of the game until SXU was able to get some key kills to secure the victory. The fourth and final set saw SXU come away with a 25-22 win. This win was very much hard fought as TCC was giving them hell for most of the set. In the end, Krasowski came through with a couple of key hits that turned out to be a difference maker. Krasowski turned out to be one of the main difference makers as she finished the game with 11 total kills. Sophomore Rory Manion and junior Alex Lambros both came away with 10 kills of their own.
The women return to action this upcoming Tuesday in a home game against Roosevelt University. For a recap of that game and other events/news happening around campus keep it locked here at the Xavierite.
Kenneth Washington
Sports Reporter