This week, the SXU Women’s Volleyball team showed something they had not shown all season, complete and total dominance of their opponents. The Cougars played three times this week, starting with the Roosevelt Lakers on October 1st. Saint Xavier entered the game with a 4-11 record, while the Lakers entered the game with a 6-12 record.
The first set started with a close back and forth affair, with neither team gaining a distinct advantage. However, the Cougars ran away with it, eventually winning the first set 25-16.
The second set was completely dominated by the Cougars, who eventually won it 25-11. The third set was close, but the Lakers always kept a small lead. The Lakers eventually closed things out and won the third set 25-18.
The fourth and final set was very close and was even tied 12-12 at one point. The Cougars tried to pull away, leading 20-13 at one point, but the Lakers kept clawing back, cutting the deficit to just two points.
However, SXU was saved by a clutch kill from outside hitter Jessica Belseth, which won the Cougars the set and the match in the process. The Cougars improved to 5-11 with the win, while the Lakers fell to 6-13 with the loss.
Saint Xavier next played on October 3rd, when they traveled to Whiting, Indiana to play the Calumet Crimson Wave.
The Crimson Wave entered this game with a 1-12 record. The first set started off with both teams locked in a close affair, but the Cougars eventually won out and won the first set 25-18. The second set was not even close, as SXU held the Crimson Wave to just eight points and eventually won 25-8.
The third and final set was a near repeat of the second set, except the Cougars somehow managed to be more dominant. After an entire set of Cougar dominance, the Cougars won 25-7 to win the match in the process. The Cougars improved to 6-11 with the win, while the Crimson Wave fell to 1-13 with the loss.
The Cougars wrapped up their week on October 5th, when they played the Saint Ambrose Bees at the Shannon Center. The Bees entered the game with a 5-12 record. The first set was very close, with neither team gaining a distinct advantage. In the end, it was the Cougars who pulled away with the win thanks to some costly errors from the Bees and some clutch kills. The second set was completely dominated by SXU, who easily won 25-18.
The third set was a near repeat of the second set and the final result was the same, a 25-18 Cougars victory. With that set win, the Cougars won the match. The Cougars improved to 7-11 with the win, while the Bees fell to 5-13 with the loss.
Saint Xavier faces a busy week next week. They play the Olivet Nazarene Tigers on Tuesday, October 8th before traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan to participate in the AQ/CU Classic Tournament. In that tournament, they play the Bethel Pilots, the Carroll Fighting Saints, and the Rocky Mountain Battlin’ Bears.