The Saint Xavier Women’s volleyball team won their second consecutive CCAC tournament over the weekend, defeating St. Ambrose University in four sets.
This is the Cougars’ fourth time in the last six seasons winning the CCAC regular season title and tournament championship (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022).
With their outstanding season, SXU earned an automatic bid into the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Opening Round, beginning November 19.
On top of a phenomenal year, several members of the team earned CCAC accolades.
Head Coach, Bob Heersema who is in his 35th season, was named CCAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
Sophomores Avanna Martinez and Kaleigh Ritter collected All-CCAC First Team honors. Ritter was also awarded CCAC Setter of the Year with 1.079 assists, 299 digs, and 28 aces.
Seniors Chloe Memenga and Alexandra Wis were named to the All-CCAC second team.
The tournament kicked off on Tuesday the 8, with the Cougars taking on Olivet Nazarene University.
SXU dominated against ONU, winning three of four sets in dominant fashion to move on to the next round.
This was SXU’s best best game of the season in terms of attack percentage, which came in at .361. They also had 13 service aces, their second-most this season, and the fifth time this season where they recorded 10 or more aces in a match.
Senior outside hitter, Molly Hackett, led the team in kills and digs with 14 each. With the 14 kills Hackett surpassed 1,000 career kills.
Martinez had 13 digs and three service aces on the night.
Their next game took place on Thursday against Trinity International University. The Trojans and Cougars faced off in the last game of the season the prior week and TIU handed SXU their first home loss since April 1, 2021.
Despite beating Trinity International in straight sets, all of them were tight matches with back and forth scoring (25-23, 25-20, 25-18).
Neither team ever pulled away with a big lead until the third set when SXU went up 22-17 and never looked back.
There is no doubt that Heersema helps keep his players focused with a cool and calm demeanor.
Junior middle blocker, Courtney Hunter, along with Hackett came up with huge kills throughout the sets to help push the Cougars to a win.
Ritter recorded her 17 double-double of the season with 32 assists and 18 digs.
In the championship game on Saturday, St. Ambrose got off to a hot start with a commanding 9-2 lead. SXU eventually cut the lead to 10-9, but the Fighting Bees took control of set one, winning 25-17.
SAU jumped out to another big lead to start the second set but SXU fought back and won the set on a kill from Hunter and an ace from senior outside hitter, Kellylyn Kotowski.
The Cougars dominated the third set, winning 25-12. They scored nine-straight points to go up 21-11, sealing the deal on set three.
In set four, the end was in sight with the Cougars up 20-14 but SAU chipped away, tightening the score at 22-20.
Memenga recorded the winning kill for the Cougars that once again crowned them champions of the CCAC.
Saint Xavier will play Central Methodist (Missouri) in Fayetteville, MO., in the Opening Round of the NAIA playoffs this coming Saturday, the game is scheduled to start at 11 am.
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