La Crosse, Wis. – The No. 2 seeded Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (19-11, 13-1 CCAC) lost to top seeded and No. 15 ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon in La Crosse, Wis. Fifth-year senior middle blocker Courtney Hunter (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) led the Cougars with eight kills, and she tied for the team-high with three blocks. Despite the setback, SXU earns an automatic berth into the NAIA Opening Round that begins on Saturday, November 23. It will be the fifth time since 2017 that Saint Xavier has appeared in the NAIA Opening Round (2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022) and seventh time overall (2010 & 2012).

• Senior outside hitter Connie LeBel (Crestwood, Ill./DePaul/Ferris State/Mother McAuley) totaled eight digs, six kills, two service aces and an assist.
• Redshirt junior setter Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill./Heartland/Dee-Mack) collected 18 assists with a dig and a kill.
• Redshirt junior libero Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Ponceno) posted a match-high tying 13 digs, along with an ace and an assist.
• Junior middle blocker Nicole Grochola (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) recorded six kills and a block.
• Freshman middle blocker Carrington Smith (Flossmoor, Ill./Marian Catholic) tallied three blocks and two kills.
• Senior right side/outside hitter Brittany Samars (Bridgeview, Ill./Millikin/Argo Community) added three kills and a dig.
• Freshman defensive specialist Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) scooped up eight digs with an assist, and sophomore setter Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) handed out four assists for the Cougars.

Saint Xavier (19-11/13-1 CCAC) finds out whom they play when the NAIA Opening Round Selection Show airs on the Urban Edge Network at Noon on Monday, November 18.