On Friday February 11 the St. Xavier men’s volleyball team defended their home court by sweeping NCAA Division III school, Illinois Institute of Technology, in three straight sets.
The Cougars final set was their strongest, with 15 kills, 33 total attacks, a 39.4 hitting percentage with just 2 errors.
Saint Xavier finished the game with a .333 attack percentage (41-13-84) and is now undefeated this season (5-0) when posting an attack percentage above .300.
Junior outside hitter, Vejas Cuplinskas, led the team with a career high 17 kills, finishing with a .464 attack percentage. Cuplinskas added three digs and two blocks to cap off a stellar performance.
Other star performances included junior middle blocker, Jake McClain, who led the team with an incredible .692 attack percentage alongside a season high 10 kills.
Junior setter, Jason Klein, played seemingly every role in the victory, dishing out 32 assists, three digs, a service ace, a block, and a kill.
Freshman libero, Andres Velez, tied the SXU men’s volleyball three set record with 19 digs.
The Cougars have been dominant in all regards all season long, ranked at no. 12 in the NAIA top 25 coaches poll.
The team has swept each of their last four opponents including Olivet Nazarene University and Calumet College of St. Joseph, two teams that have received votes for the top 20 coaches poll.
SXU also swept no. 14 ranked Aquinas College back on February 3, which stands as their most impressive win on the season. In that game, freshman opposite hitter, Oskar Krzyzak, recorded 18 kills and was one of the hottest players on the team.
Krzyzak missed this past game against Illinois Tech but looks to return and continue his dominant play. He was named CCAC attacker of the week last week and is an integral part to the Cougars 6-1 start this season.
SXU looks to be a dominant force this season. With young top end talent like Krzyzak and Velez to older experienced veterans like McClain and Klein, this is a team with high end national potential
Currently ranked no. 12 in the country, St. Xavier is a force to be reckoned with. This team is off to an extremely hot start and is primed for not only a CCAC title but a nationals run if they keep up their play.
SXU has four games in the next week, the first coming on Thursday, February 16 at home against Trinity International University at 7pm. The Cougars will travel to Ohio for a game against no. 9 Lourdes University on the 17, scheduled for 6pm.
On Monday the 20, Saint Xavier will take on CCAC opponent, Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA., at 7pm, their last game in this stretch brings them to Goshen, IN., to take on Goshen University at 7pm.
About Post Author
