SXU Athletics
The women’s volleyball team split games once again, as they closed out their season on Nov. 13.
The Cougars played two games last week, winning the first and losing the second.
The team played Judson University for the third time on Nov. 11 in the quarterfinal round.
The Cougars defeated the Eagles in all three sets (23-25, 16-25, 17-25) in the 7 p.m. away game that took place at the Lindner Fitness Center in Elgin, Ill.
Senior middle hitter Marie Hackert and senior defensive specialist and outside hitter Jessica Galotta contributed nine kills each to lead the Cougars to victory.
Meghan Falsey, a junior right side, had eight kills, as did freshman outside hitter Anna O’Hara. Senior setter Kelli Shaffer recorded 37 assists and six digs.
Heidi Gregerson, a junior middle blocker and outside hitter, added seven kills and three total blocks (one solo), which was the most blocks of the night.
Senior libero Dominique Aramburu shone defensively with 19 digs.
The lady Cougars’ victory against Judson earned them a spot in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament Semifinals where they played CCAC North Division champion and No. 1 seed Cardinal Stritch University on Nov. 13.
SXU fell to the Cardinal Stritch Wolves in all three sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-15).
O’Hara led her team with eight kills. Hackert contributed seven kills and one solo block. Shaffer recorded 21 assists and eight digs.
On defense, Aramburu led her team with 14 digs, while Galotta followed 10 digs. Gregerson posted six kills and six block assists.
The Cougars’ loss to the Wolves brought SXU’s season to an end with an overall record of 24-16.
The Cougars tied for second place in the North Division of the CCAC standings with a record of 12-5 for conference play.
SXU finished in 5th place out of eight total teams in the CCAC Volleyball Tournament. The team will open season again in the fall of 2015.
Alexis Flamburis
Sports Correspondent