Matthew Pennala serves the ball against William Penn (IA.) SXU Athletics
The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team traveled to Missouri this past weekend to take on Missouri University of Science & Technology, as well as No. 12 ranked Missouri Baptist University. The Cougars lost both games with their record falling to 0-5.
This is the first 0-5 start for the men’s program since 2017, when they started the season 0-7.
Prior to the games, junior outsider hitter Matthew Pennala was named CCAC Attacker of the Week. Pennala had 39 kills over three games and also collected six blocks (one solo), five digs, three assists, and two service aces. His performances resulted in 44.5 points for Saint Xavier.
No. 10 SXU vs. Missouri S&T: 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 9-15 (L)
SXU’s first game of the weekend on Friday the 2 was against Missouri S&T, a well played game from both teams but the Cougars fell in five sets.
Pennala led Saint Xavier’s offense with 17 kills; he also had a season-high of nine digs, with a pair of assists.
Redshirt junior outside hitter Vejas Cuplinskas and sophomore outside hitter Jan Lopuch each had 12 kills in the loss.
Freshman setter Cameron Daniels dished out a career-high 47 assists and career-best eight digs. His final statline also included two kills and a block.
The Cougars fell in a hard-fought first set that had team’s trading leads often, especially late in the set.
Down 8-12 early, SXU found a way right back into the game with five straight points to take their first lead of the game at 13-12.
Scoring alternated for most of the remainder of the set, but the Miners rallied for three in a row to make the score 16-19; and this proved to be just enough room to walk away with a set one victory.
Saint Xavier righted the ship over the next two sets to take a 2-1 set, but could not keep that momentum to grab their first win of the season.
Looking dominant to start the game, SXU kept Missouri S&T at arm’s length, but they were able to get themselves back into the game. At one point, the Miners held a 15-19 lead and it started to look as though they were going to go up two sets to none.
Coming out of a timeout, the Cougars scored five straight to go up 20-19 and reclaim the lead.
Missouri S&T tried to make a comeback by tying it at 23, but Saint Xavier was able to fend them off and tie the game at one set a piece.
The third set was similar to the second, SXU started off with good leads of 6-2 and 13-9 but the Miners kept battling back.
With a 19-22 lead, things were coming down to the wire for the Cougars again but they scored five in a row to retake the lead and eventually take the set.
Despite the 2-1 set lead, Saint Xavier fell in the last two sets and took their fourth loss of the season.
Although Missouri S&T played a phenomenal game, this was probably one the Cougars should have won, especially after going up two sets to one.
No. 10 SXU vs. No. 12 Missouri Baptist University: 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 12-15 (L)
In their second game of the weekend, the Cougars fell in a five set battle to Missouri Baptist University.
Lopuch recorded a match-high 20 kills and team-best three service aces. He also had seven digs in the match.
Fifth year setter Christian Oviedo led the way with 31 assists as well as two service aces and three digs.
Sophomore Libero Andres Velez tallied a game-high 21 digs in addition to two assists and a service ace.
Neither team truly dominated the first set, with both going on scoring streaks to take leads. Unfortunately for SXU, they could not build anything at the end of the set and MBU narrowly escaped with a win.
The second set was more controlled by Missouri Baptist despite the Cougars starting off strong. The Spartans were able to eventually build up a 17-21 lead which was enough territory to keep the SXU offense at bay.
Down two sets to nothing, Saint Xavier had their backs against the wall and would have to take the next two sets to force a fifth and final set.
Saint Xavier looked great in the third set, they built up an early lead and when MBU crawled their way back into the game, the Cougars recaptured the momentum to finish the third set strong and get back in the game.
The fourth set of this match was the first one SXU had control of from start to finish.
With a 17-13 lead, the Spartans took a timeout to try and rectify things on their side; but the Cougars came out and didn’t let MBU back into the game.
Missouri Baptist did score four straight to get the score to 24-22, but SXU held on and it felt like they had enough energy to take the last set.
Saint Xavier hung in with MBU in the fifth set, but never had a lead in the last set and were sent home with a heartbreaking loss.
Though the 0-5 start to the men’s season is disappointing, there should be no alarm bells going off. The Cougars have faced tough opponents thus far and will continue to as the season goes on with eight more ranked teams in their schedule.
Their next game is Saturday, Feb. 10 in La Crosse, WI. against Viterbo University (WI.). The game is scheduled for 11 a.m.