SXU Volleyball Seniors Grouped Together In Honor of Senior Night SXU Athletics
The regular season has concluded for the Cougars and after defeating Mount Mary University and Judson, the ladies have punched their ticket into the 2025 postseason.
Before the NAIA Opening Round kicks off, the Cougars had to knock down their first obstacle, the CCAC Tournament. The Cougars wasted no time and went on a dominant run throughout the tournament.
They defeated Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) (ONU) in the Quarterfinals, and the University of St. Francis (Ill.) (USF) in the Semifinals to advance to the CCAC Championship game.
They went on to play the No. 17 ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) in the championship game, but ultimately couldn’t get it done against the 27-6 V-Hawks. Losing the match in four sets, the Cougars only won in the first set and let the rest slip away, finishing as the runner-up.
Saint Xavier University vs. Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.): 25-22, 25-18, 17-25, 25-13 (W)
The Cougars made easy work out of ONU as they took care of them in four sets, SXU capped things off with a 25-13 set victory in the fourth set and effortlessly found their way into the Semifinals.
Saint Xavier excelled statistically, finishing with 57 kills, 52 assists, and a season-high 12 total blocks, while their 75 digs tied for the seventh-most in a match this season.
Sophomore middle blocker Carrington Smith delivered a dominant performance, posting a career-high 15 kills on a .625 attack percentage, also adding four blocks and three digs to the statline.
Sophomore middle blocker Delaney Panozzo also came up big, recording 12 kills on a .440 attack percentage, a career-best seven digs, and three blocks.
Senior setter Samantha Hovey fueled the offense with 29 assists and 16 digs, earning her 16th double-double of the year while adding seven kills and two blocks. Junior setter Abbey Opilka contributed 16 assists, six digs, and a kill.
This match also saw senior outside hitter Tara Glynn and senior middle blocker Nicole Grochola each post nine kills, with Glynn adding a season-high seven digs and a match-sealing solo block.
On the defensive side, fifth-year senior libero Avanna Martinez recorded 15 digs, while sophomore libero/defensive specialist Taylor Vann added 10 digs.
Senior outside hitter Jenny Jensen chipped in four kills and three blocks, and defensive specialists senior Ariel Hoskin and graduate student Katie DeHaan combined for eight digs.
Saint Xavier University vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.): 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9 (W)
The Cougars did it again and got another win in dominant fashion, knocking out the USF Bulldogs in five sets. It was back and forth as SXU won the odd number sets, and USF won the even number sets.
It was the fifth set that mattered most, and the Cougars stepped up big time winning this match to advance to the Championship game for the second consecutive year and the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
This match was also the match that gave the Cougars a berth into the 2025 NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship Opening Round.
Smith and Panozzo continued where they left off from last round as they each posted a career-high 16 kills, dominating at the net throughout the semifinal battle.
Smith also added four blocks, a dig, and an ace, while Panozzo added five blocks (four solos) and three digs, tying her career-highs in both total and solo blocks.
Hovey recorded her sixth triple-double of the season with 25 assists, 23 digs, and 10 kills, plus an ace, continuing her outstanding postseason play. While Opilka added her fourth double-double with 23 assists and 13 digs and two aces.
Martinez came through as she led all players with 32 digs, marking her fifth match this season with 30+ digs. She added five assists and an ace.
DeHaan contributed 12 digs, her eighth double-digit outing of 2025, along with two aces. While Jensen tallied seven kills and three digs, and Glynn added five kills and five digs. Grochola posted three kills and a solo block.
Saint Xavier University vs. No. 17 Viterbo University (Wis.): 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 14-25 (L)
The Cougars were so close, yet so far from achieving one of the greatest accomplishments of the season. The championship game was in reach but for the second straight year, they lost.
SXU won the first set, but it all started to fall apart throughout the rest of the sets, only scoring 14 points in the fourth and final set.
Regardless, the Cougars put up the best fight they could against the No. 1 seeded V-Hawks who went undefeated in conference play.
Despite the loss, we saw effort from Martinez as she anchored the Cougar defense with a team-best 28 digs, eight assists, and two aces. Her performance pushed her past 600 digs on the season, making her just the eighth player in program history to hit that milestone. Martinez now ranks No. 6 all-time with 626 single-season digs.
Hovey continued to kill it as she recorded her 18th double-double of the season, leading the team with 21 assists and 11 kills, along with eight digs and a block.
Smith continued her late season surge with 10 kills, her fifth straight match with double-digit kills, plus four blocks and a dig.
Meanwhile Opilka delivered her second consecutive double-double, totaling 19 assists, 12 digs, and two aces. Panozzo contributed nine kills, three digs, and a block.
Grochola added eight kills on an efficient .294 hitting percentage, while Jensen posted seven kills. Glynn chipped in four kills, two blocks, and a dig.
The 2025 Opening Round for the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship will kick off on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Cougars will prepare for their opponent and be ready to claim a win in the Opening Round.