Matt Pannala during game at the Shannon Center SXU Athletics
The spring semester has begun, which means a new wave of sports will begin. From men’s volleyball to baseball, softball, track & field, golf, cheer, dance, and playoff basketball, this semester has it all.
As of Feb.1 both men’s and women’s basketball enter their final two weeks of the regular season before conference tournaments and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament.
The men’s team had a disappointing year, going 8-12 overall with seven games left, while the women’s team will finish the regular season above .500 as they currently have a 15-7 record with six games remaining.
No.2 men’s volleyball team has already started their 2026 campaign and, at the time of writing this, they are off to a 2-2 start as they look to repeat last year’s run to the NAIA national championship.
On Jan. 30, 2026, the reigning Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) champions men’s baseball team will begin their season in Bradenton, Florida. For more information, check out last week’s article.
Cougars Celebrate fifth straight CCAC title SXU Athletics
The Cougars will look to win their sixth straight CCAC title when the softball season begins on Feb. 12, 2026, as the No.23 Cougars take on No.14 Madonna University (Mich.) at the Rosemont Dome as part of a doubleheader. Their first home game will be played on March 21 against Judson University.
The men’s and women’s track and field season has resumed after a month-long break, and their next event will be the Walter Cramer Invite on Feb. 6 in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
They will also have a two-day meet in Allendale, Michigan on Feb. 13, and Feb. 14, before the CCAC championships begin on Feb. 20
On March 3, 2026, men’s and women’s golf tees off at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
The Cougars dance team will have three competitions before the American Midwest Conference Championships on March 7.
As for the cheer team, they will have a two-day competition in New Orleans, Louisiana from Feb. 5-6 before they also head to the American Midwest Conference Championships on March 6, in Columbia, Missouri.
Finally, No.6 men’s bowling and No.22 women’s bowling continue their strong seasons as they reach their final event on Feb. 14-15 before ITC sectionals begin on March 14, the NAIA national championships on March 19-21, and the ITC nationals in April.
No matter what sport you like, this semester has a little bit of everything with a mix of indoor and outdoor events, so come out to show support for your 2026 Cougars.
*Correction: Photo captions edited for formatting*
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