Right-side hitter Matt Penala attempting a kill
SXU Athletics
Saint Xavier University (SXU)’s Men’s Volleyball team went 2-0 in Saturday’s tri-match, defeating Judson University and Lourdes University to improve to 13-2 on the season.
The Cougars opened up the day by sweeping the hosting Eagles in a match highlighted by team efficiency. SXU recorded a .420 hitting percentage with only 11 errors in the game. They maintained their consistency as an attacking unit throughout the match, posting above a .400 hitting percentage in each of the 3 sets.
Outside Caydann Cox led the Cougars with 16 kills on a .370 hitting percentage, adding 2 blocks on the defensive end. Right-side hitter Matt Penala, totaled 7 kills on just 8 attempts, and setter Cameron Daniels distributed 36 assists in the game.
The win improved the Cougars to 4-0 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play.
The second opponent of this tri-match invite tested the Cougars in a nationally ranked matchup.
Lourdes University is ranked 8th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with a 12-3 record, headlined by their efficiency on both ends of the net. The Gray Wolves have hit .268 on the season – 14 in the NAIA – and are amongst the nations leaders in total blocks and digs.
The Cougars beat the Gray Wolves three sets to none.
SXU logged a .391 hitting percentage, with their highest mark coming in the first set at .458. Defensively, they limited Lourdes University to a .068 hitting percentage, while registering 15 digs in the backend and 15 blocks at the net.
Daniels orchestrated the offensive performance recording 30 assists, with explosive output from Penala and Cox, who notched 24 kills combined and a .452 hitting percentage in conjunction.
This night also marked an historic milestone for Penala. Tallying his 924th kill in his career at SXU, surpassing the previous record set by Grant Ooms at 908 kills, Penala became the all-time kill leader in the win over Judson University – highlighting a successful night for the Cougars program overall.
SXU now turns its attention to conference matchups against Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.), Governors State University, and Viterbo, while also preparing for an upcoming showdown against the 11th ranked Mustangs of Mount Mercy University in the coming weeks.