The Saint Xavier Men’s Volleyball team ended the regular season in a way that did not really inspire confidence.
They went 2-2 in their final week going into the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament on a very shaky note.
However, the Cougars seemed to put all fears aside with their dominant performance for the actual tournament.
Their journey started on April 5th when they played Cardinal Stritch University. The Cougars entered the game with a 18-7 record, while the Wolves entered the game with a 12-16 record.
Saint Xavier got on the board first, going up 1-0 thanks to an error from the Wolves. That would be their only point for a while because Cardinal Stritch absolutely went off, going on a 7-0 run, mostly thanks to numerous errors from the SXU players.
The Cougars couldn’t get their heads in the game for the rest of the set and eventually lost 9-25.
The second set was very back and forth, with the Wolves eventually taking a 22-20 lead. However, SXU stormed back, eventually winning the second set 25-23.
The third set was completely dominated by Saint Xavier. Despite an attempted comeback from Cardinal Stritch, the Cougars held on and won the third set 25-22.
The fourth set was very close, but the Wolves always maintained a small lead and eventually won the set 25-23.
In the fifth and final set, SXU got off to a hot start, going up 10-4 at one point. However, the Wolves attempted a fiery comeback, cutting the Cougars lead down to just one.
With the chance to tie it up, the Wolves committed a service error, giving Saint Xavier a point, the set, and the game.
With the victory, the Cougars advanced to the CCAC Tournament finals to face the Saint Ambrose Bees.
The next day, the Cougars faced off with Saint Ambrose in the CCAC Tournament finals. Saint Ambrose got here by defeating Robert Morris University in three straight sets.
The first set was very back and forth, but it was the Cougars who came out with the victory, winning the first set 25-21.
The second set started with a completely dominating performance from SXU, however the Bees were able to get things close down the stretch.
With the Bees in prime position to win the set, they completely bungled it by committing two errors, which gave the Cougars the set.
In the third and final set, both teams played hard and fast. Both teams were trading leads for most of the set, until eventually both were tied at 27 points.
Saint Xavier got two crucial kills from Ben Gabor and Justin McCarthy that won them the set, the game, and the tournament.
With their victory, the Cougars received a berth in the NAIA National Tournament.
Saint Xavier starts that tournament on April 16th in Des Moines, Iowa when they play Missouri Baptist University, Grand View University, and Park University in the group stage.
The Cougars played great in the CCAC Tournament and can only hope to replicate that success in the NAIA Tournament.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor