Middle Blocker, Tyson Myers, celebrating a point SXU Athletics
Saint Xavier University’s Men’s Volleyball team is closing out yet another dominant regular season, positioning themselves atop the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) heading into tournament play with their sights set on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament.
The Cougars racked up 12 victories against CCAC opponents, matching last year’s total and reinforcing their sustained success within the conference. Prior to their final Tri-Match at SXU, they compiled an impressive 36–1 set record in conference play, showcasing consistent dominance from match to match.
Over the course of the season, SXU added seven ranked wins to their resume, solidifying their position as the No. 3 team in the NAIA–trailing only Park University at No. 2 and The Master’s University, which has held the No. 1 ranking throughout the season.
The Cougars have remained in the Top 5 all year, driven by an efficient offensive attack and a defensive unit capable of matching their explosive output.
SXU ranks 4th in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.327) and 6th in assists per set (12.17). Defensively, the Cougars have limited opponents to a .131 hitting percentage—also 4th nationally—while averaging 2.32 blocks per set, good for 15th in the country.
The Cougars are helmed by 2025 National Player of the Year, Matt Penala. Across 23 matches, he’s recorded 3.89 kills per set–leading the Cougars–on a .347 hitting percentage. His production has been mirrored across Saint Xavier’s lineup.
Middle Blockers Hayden Grange and Tyson Myers posted hitting percentages of .470 and .449, respectively. Outside hitter Caydann Cox added a .307 hitting percentage while leading the team with 566 total attempts.
The Cougars consistency is driven by Setter Cameron Daniels, who is reminiscent of a Quarterback on the football field. The junior ranks fourth in the NAIA in assists per set (10.73), a career-high mark, improving from the 9.53 he recorded during his sophomore season, when SXU narrowly lost the national championship in four sets.
The CCAC tournament, set for April 14-18, offers SXU a chance to secure an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Key conference opponents include Governors State University, Saint Ambrose University, and Olivet Nazarene University—all of whom hold winning records overall and in conference. However, the Cougars handled those matchups earlier this season, going a combined 6–0.
Still, postseason play marks a time of uncertainty where anyone can rise to the occasion; the Cougars must uphold their standard of excellence to come out the tournament unscathed.
On the national stage, it’s headlined by The Master’s University, Park University, and Mount Mercy University. The Mustangs of The Master’s University handed Saint Xavier two of their four losses across the past two seasons–including the 2025 national championship match.
The Master’s University is No.1 in the NAIA, anchored by a potent offensive unit that has proved hard to quell and a formidable defensive presence on the other end.
The Mustangs have registered a resounding .408 hitting percentage across the regular season, with similar marks in assists per set, sitting at 12.85. Yet, their edge is acquired defensively, ranking 1st in hitting percentage allowed at .129.
Meanwhile, Park University (Mo.) is the 2nd ranked team in the NAIA, currently holding onto an undefeated season and a 27-game win streak. As a unit, the Pirates are dynamic, seen by their .369 hitting percentage and 2.64 blocks per set that both rank 2nd nationally.
As for the 4th ranked Mount Mercy Mustangs, they share this reliable play on both ends of the net. They have collected 20 wins on the season, and dealt SXU their most recent loss to date in a five set match. That victory, alongside a handful of wins, propelled the Mustangs from No. 7 to No. 4 in the national polls ahead of conference play.
Beside the top challengers, the national stage will feel familiar for SXU. They’ve matched up and navigated a tough ranked environment against the likes of Lourdes University, William Penn University, Saint Thomas University, Bethel University, and Georgetown University, prevailing in each encounter.
While they have coasted through the regular season, the NAIA tournament presents an uptick in the level of competition—one SXU has shown it can handle.
After falling just short last year, the Cougars enter the postseason with experience, momentum, and championship aspirations built over the past two seasons, as they aim to finish what they started and secure a long-awaited national title.
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