SXU Athletics
The women’s volleyball team has been playing game after game, but it has been quite the roller coaster season for them.
Since the Cougars’ latest comeback after their winning streak was ended, they have lost two games and won two games.
The first loss after their comeback was due to the Grace College Lancers on Oct. 11. The Cougars lost to the Lancers earlier this season.
Grace College took down SXU in two out of three sets (23-25, 31-33, 14-25).
The second loss that night was to the Ashford University Saints (20-25, 23-25, 25-27).
Both of these losses concluded the Davenport University Panther Invite in Grand Rapids, Mich.
SXU Athletics
The Cougars only had an attack percentage of .143, along with 42 kills and 23 attacking errors.
The best performance came from junior middle blocker and outside hitter Heidi Gregerson. She contributed 13 kills and three blocks (one solo) during the game against Grace College.
Senior defensive specialist and outside hitter Jessica Galotta posted 16 digs. Senior setter Kelli Shaffer ended with 25 assists, five kills and five digs.
Meghan Falsey, a junior right side, contributed nine kills and three block assists for both the Grace and Ashford games.
During the match against Ashford, Galotta recorded eight kills and 12 digs, while senior libero Dominique Aramburu had 16 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Anna O’Hara posted eight kills. Marie Hackert, a senior middle hitter, helped out SXU with six kills and five blocks (one solo).
The Cougars hit the court again on Oct. 14 and defeated Roosevelt University in three out of four sets (14-25, 25-23, 20-25, 19-25). Earlier this season, SXU had lost to Roosevelt.
Hackert and Gregerson were the two leaders in the game against Roosevelt.
Hackert led her team with nine kills and four blocks (one solo), while Gregerson followed with seven kills and four blocks (one solo).
Offensively, Shaffer shone with 26 assists, three kills and 11 digs. O’Hara stepped up with seven kills. Galotta played well on offense and defense, contributing four kills, three service aces and 12 digs.
Freshman defensive specialist Shauna Meagher posted 14 digs, the most for SXU.
At the conclusion of this game, the Cougars’ Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) record became 6-3.
Just two days later, the women went up against Saint Ambrose University.
After the Fighting Bees took the first set, the Cougars shut them down, winning the rest of the sets (25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 23-25).
O’Hara was the star of this game, tying her career-high of 15 kills. Hackert and Gregerson were a strong duo once again, recording 11 kills each.
Shaffer had an impressive 49 assists, 10 digs and four kills. Galotta played well once again with eight kills, 15 digs and two service aces.
On defense, Meagher led with 17 digs while Gregerson posted five blocks.
At the end of the Saint Ambrose game, the Cougars record adjusted to 16-13.
The ladies do not have to travel far at all for their next tournament, which will take place at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.
The CCAC Crossover Tournament will be a two-day event and will consist of four matches.
The Cougars will go up against Purdue University-Calumet and Trinity Christian College on Oct. 24.
On Oct. 25, the team will play Calumet College of Saint Joseph and Olivet Nazarene University.
There are only eight more games until the first round of the CCAC Tournament on Nov. 11.
Three of the eight games will allow the Cougars the chance to play previous opponents in matches against Ashford University, Cardinal Stritch University and Robert Morris University.
Alexis Flamburis
Sports Correspondent
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