This was an exciting season for the Cougars on the men’s volleyball team. There were a lot of highs and a few lows.
One of the highlights of this season was when they defeated Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees in the second game of the season. This team was the first men’s volleyball team in the program’s history at Saint Xavier to beat the Fighting Bees.
The team was able to see a little action in the post season during the CCAC Tournament Semifinals when they faced Cardinal Stritch University Wolves this past Friday. This is how the Cougars were able to go to the CCAC Tournament.
During the final two games of the 2018 regular season, the Cougars played against conference rivals the Trinity Christian College Trolls and the Cardinal Stritch Wolves. In order to make it to the post season, the Cougars had to win one of these games.
The Cougars were able to accomplish this goal during the final home game of the season against the Trolls. They conquered the Trolls in a thrilling five-set match.
It was also a plus that it was the Cougar’s Senior Night, so the gym was filled with excited Cougar Nation fans.
With the win over the Tolls, the Cougars were on their way to Wisconsin to face the Wolves.
Unfortunately, their post season run would be cut short after losing to the Wolves in three straight sets. The Wolves were ranked the top seed in the CCAC Tournament.
Right off the bat, the Wolves led the first set over the Cougars at 6-2. The Cougars were able to close a lot of gaps and even cutting leads by two points, but then the Wolves were in the front of the Cougars with a score of 13-8, they would make a run for it controlling the lead and the game. Wolves took the 25-14 win.
The second set with the Wolves was the most competitive one of the night. In fact, the lead changed six times throughout the set.
After three straight serves from sophomore middle blocker Ben Gabor, he gave the Cougars the early 4-2 lead. By the way, all those serves were aces from Gabor.
It didn’t take long for Cardinal Stritch to come back with three points of their own to take the lead back from the Cougars. All of the Cougars and Wolves leads were separated by two points.
At one point during the second set, junior outside hitter Jake Olson send a kill towards the Wolves and would bring the Cougars within a point with the score at 16-15.
That was as close as the Cougars got and Stritch got a rhythm going throughout the rest of the 25-19 second set and the win.
It all came down to the third set, which could be the last set of the 2018 Cougar men’s volleyball season. The set was close, but not as close as the second set.
The Cougars would tie with the Wolves three different times during this set. The Cougars would never be able to catch up to the Wolves.
The Wolves win overall and they move on in the CCAC Tournament.
The Cougars would end the season with an overall record of 8-10 and a CCAC record of 6-6.
It was a good season Cougars. Congratulations to the seniors on their amazing careers at Saint Xavier: Jerry Soukal, Brandon McGinnis, Brad Gadek, Tom Matonis, and Stephan Szajek.
Cougar Nation will be looking forward to the 2019 Men’s Volleyball season with the team coming back stronger then ever!
Christine Manika
Sports Columnist
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