The Saint Xavier Cougar Men’s Volleyball team is not having a bad season so far. They are winning majority of their away games. But, they have yet to win a home game in the 2018 season. They had the opportunity to win at home this past week on Thursday against the #7 team Cardinal Stritch University.
They also went on the road Tuesday to travel to Judson University. There is good and bad news: the good news is the Cougars were 1-1 on the week winning and losing in four sets. The bad news: winning at home is a problem for the Cougars.
Let’s start by doing a quick recap and talk about the Cougars win against the Judson University Eagles. Four Cougars finished off the night with double-digit kills: Jake Olson (Junior outside hitter), Brad Gadek (Senior middle blocker), Mike Burci (Sophomore middle blocker), and Ben Gabor (Sophomore middle blocker). Olson, Gadek, and Burci both collected 12 kills while Gabor was not too far behind collecting 11 kills.
All four of the sets were close, the closest game was the opening set with the lead changing four times. The Cougars were behind the Eagles 13-11 until they went on an 8-2 run to claim the 19-15 lead. This lead was possible after Gabor and Burci went off into a rally of kills along with back-to-back aced serves from Sophomore setter Aaron Kummer.
The Eagles did not take that lightly as they answered back with three kills of their own to close the gap. More kills from Burci and Olson would put the Cougars back on top with a 22-18 lead. Olson seals the set with another kill to get the 25-21 win.
Overall, the Cougars won against the Eagles in a 3-1 match. The Cougars took this energy back home as they were getting ready to face the #7 CCAC rival Cardinal Stritch University Wolves. This game also went into four sets, but unfortunately could not hold on to get the win. In the four sets, they lost the opening and the second set 25-21 and 25-17. The Cougars came back in the third set winning 25-22, but losing the last set 25-21.
The Wolves started to take control in the opening set with a 5-1 lead over the Cougars. The Cougars were able to tighten the gap by one point after Olson would go on a 4-1 tear to make it a 9-8 score. The Wolves responded quickly with four straight points. They had control of the opening set from there on out.
During the start of the second set, the Cougars were able to keep up with the Wolves after Burci would record a kill to tie the score at five. The Wolves rapidly ran up the score after siding out the next nine serves from the Cougars.
By the end of the nine serves, the Wolves were up with a 23-14 lead. A few fast points from the Cougars would hold off the Wolves win, but they eventually took the second set.
The Cougars came back in the third set by taking the early 10-5 lead. That lead continued to grow after a couple of power blocks from the Cougars resulting in a 4-1 run making it a 16-9 game. The Wolves were able to cut that lead after a rally of seven out of eight points with the Cougars holding on to a 17-16 lead.
Burci stopped the rally in his tracks after a kill resulting in the Cougars taking over the third set and the win. The Cougars forced a fourth set.
The Cougars started strong taking the 3-2 lead during the fourth set. The Cougars lost control after the Wolves went on a 12-5 run to create a 14-8 lead. The Cougars were able to close the gap after a kill from Junior outside hitter Sam Rodriguez and Gadek. The Cougars were able to tie the game at 17, but the Wolves bounced back and eventually took the win.
The Cougars are now 2-4 on the season and 2-2 in the CCAC Conference. Their next game is at the Shannon Center on Tuesday night against Calumet of Saint Joseph. The first serve is set for 7:00 pm, come out and cheer on your Cougars to help them get their first home win!
Christine Manika
Sports Columnist