The Saint Xavier Men’s Volleyball team has gotten off to an amazing start this year. They are 10-3 on the year entering this week and are ranked as the 10th best team in the NAIA.
The Cougars started the week on February 26th, when they traveled to Davenport, Iowa to play the Saint Ambrose Bees. Saint Ambrose entered the game with a 7-6 record.
The first set was a very close back and forth game from both teams, but it was Saint Ambrose who ultimately prevailed, winning the first set 28-26. The second set was very similar to the first set with both teams trading leads. However, the Bees started pulling away near the end, even getting a 20-12 lead at one point.
SXU had a spirited comeback, cutting the Saint Ambrose lead down to just four at one point. However, the Bees pulled away and won the second set 25-20.
The third set was very close at the start, but Saint Ambrose pulled away and eventually won the third set, and the game, 25-19. The Cougars fell to 10-4, while Saint Ambrose improved to 8-6 with the victory.
Saint Xavier looked to bounce back on March 1st when they played the Maranatha Baptist Sabercats at the Shannon Center. The Sabercats entered the game with a 0-16 record. The Cougars completely dominated the first set, even jumping out to a 10-3 lead at one point. The rest of the set was more of the same dominance from SXU, who eventually won the first set 25-12. The second set was a near repeat of the first set, with Saint Xavier jumping out to the same 10-3 lead and eventually winning 25-12. In the third and final set, the Sabercats looked to force a fourth set and were almost successful in doing so, tying the set up 17-17 at one point.
The Cougars got a 21-20 lead at one point and it was all downhill from there for the Sabercats, who eventually lost 21-25.
SXU improved to 11-4 on the year, while Maranatha Baptist fell to 0-17 with the loss. In the final game played this week, the Saint Xavier Cougars played the Concordia Cougars in Palos Heights.
Concordia entered the game with a 4-9 record. SXU completely dominated the first set, eventually winning it 25-12. Concordia entered the second set with a spirited attack, tying the set up 10-10 at one point. However, the Cougars shut down that comeback and eventually won the second set 25-17. In the third and final set, both teams played hard and fast. Both teams traded leads, but eventually Concordia had a 24- 23 lead.
Concordia called a timeout and after that, the Cougars tied the game at 24 after an attack error. Two more kills from SXU outside hitter Kyle Springer won the set 26-24 and won the game in three straight sets.
The Cougars improved to 12-4 with the victory, while Concordia fell to 4-10. Saint Xavier plays once next week, against Viterbo University on March 7th.
The Cougars are in prime position to make a deep run in the postseason.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor