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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Men's Volleyball
1
Westcliff (CA) WESTCLIF 18-8
3
Winner Saint Xavier (IL) SAINT XA 22-8
Westcliff (CA) WESTCLIF
18-8
1
Final
3
Saint Xavier (IL) SAINT XA
22-8
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Westcliff (CA) WESTCLIF 25 16 25 21 (1)
Saint Xavier (IL) SAINT XA 27 25 22 25 (3)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball |

No. 6 SXU Defeats No. 11 Westcliff in Four Sets to Start Nationals

CHICAGO – Behind a match-high 20 kills from junior outside hitter Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco), the No. 6 seeded Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (22-8/10-0 CCAC) defeated No. 11 Westcliff University (Calif.) in four sets (27-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-21) to start play in Pool C of the 2024 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Wednesday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pennala had a .359 attack percentage (20-6-39) along with seven digs, two blocks, an assist and a service ace. The win is the second straight for SXU at nationals as they wrapped up pool play last season with a thrilling five-set win over No. 8 Georgetown College (Ky.). Saint Xavier was tough at the net, collecting a season-best 23 block assists and totaling 12.5 blocks in the four-set victory, their third-highest block total in a match this season.
  • Junior outside hitter Sean Carey (Skokie, Ill./Niles West) recorded a season-high 13 kills and he added three blocks.
  • Sophomore outside hitter Jan Lopuch (Krakow, Poland/I Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace Sportowego) also finished in double-figures with 10 kills, along with eight digs, four aces and four blocks.
  • Fifth-year senior setter Christian Oviedo (Brea, Calif./Concordia-Irvine/Servite) came away with his first double-double of the season, dishing out a match-high 38 assists and a team-leading 10 digs. He added a block and a kill.
  • Junior middle blocker Alessandro Gianotti (Desio, Italy/BYU/Leonardo Da Vinchi) collected a season-high eight blocks (one solo) along with five kills and an assist.
  • Fifth-year senior middle blocker Drew Ehlers (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) tallied four blocks and three kills, while sophomore outside hitter Oskar Krzyzak (Nowy Sacz, Poland/Szkota Mistrzostwa Sportowego Rzeszów) added two blocks, a kill and a service ace.
  • Sophomore libero Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) registered a season-high tying seven assists with seven digs.
  • Freshman setter Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) chipped in four digs, two aces and an assist.
No. 6 Saint Xavier (22-8/10-0 CCAC) takes on No. 3 Grand View University on Thursday, May 2 at 10:00 am. With a win, the Cougars would win Pool C and advance to the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament Semifinals on Friday, May 3.
 
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