Our Men’s Volleyball team has enjoyed a fun start to the season thus far. Winning cures all and it’s all our team has been doing this season.
All the hard offseason work has paid off in a big way, as the Cougars have won six of their first eight games. This is a vast improvement compared to the start our team had last season, when they won only three of the first eight matches.
Our only losses this season have come at the hands of ranked, national powerhouses Saint Ambrose University (#6) and Clarke University (#9).
This is a good sign; it tells us we are pretty much the best of the rest as far as the unranked teams are concerned.
Despite being losses, these two games showcased a very intense and well-played effort by our Cougars. On January 23rd, in the game versus the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University, our Cougars earned a lot of respect even in defeat since no set was decided by more than five points.
A couple of days later, against the Cougars of Clarke University, the match was decided in the last possible frame as our beloved Cougars could not quite complete the upset while on the road.
Since then, our Cougars have enjoyed a four game winning streak, with the final three matches being handled as quickly as possible by way of sweeps.
The three sweeps early in the season have already matched the number of matches the Cougars totally dominated all of last season.
First-year head coach, Tom Ryan, has rejuvenated this young group. His voice has been accepted by the young Cougars, as his wisdom and knowledge of the game is evident by his preparations. Ryan’s history and proven readiness for taking over volleyball programs is well-documented, especially since both programs he has been apart of were greatly improved upon his arrival (Quincy University and Prairie State College).
Currently holding the record as far as best starts to a season for SXU, we should be so proud of our Cougars, because we have literally never looked so good!
Junior setter, Aaron Kummer, was awarded with the SXU Athlete Spotlight for his excellence on the court for the month of January.
Kummer was ranked number 12, nationally, for number of assists throughout the entire month. In the few games our Cougars have played this month, all wins, Kummer has totaled 99 assists, and looks to continue his and the team’s hot streak this upcoming week.
In those same games, sophomore outside hitter Justin McCarthy has led the team in total points, averaging twelve kills per game in the month of February thus far.
Our Cougars are currently 1-1 in conference play right now (CCAC), with three of the next four conference games on the road.
In the final game of the month, we face off against Saint Ambrose University, so let’s send our support and encouragement with the team down to Iowa as they seek revenge from a previous defeat.
Also, our team has two home games back to back this week.
If you have no plans in the evening for February 14-15, use that time to make it to the Shannon Center (7p.m.) and cheer our squad to more victories.
Tell a friend to tell a friend: we need to see you there to witness greatness! This looks to be a promising year for Men’s Volleyball.
Dallas Haywood
Sports Reporter