CHICAGO – The No. 2 ranked Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (1-0/0-0 CCAC) began the 2025 season with a three-set victory (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) over No. 4 ranked, and defending national champion, Georgetown College (Ky.) in the SXU Tournament Thursday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. The Cougars, with their highest-ranking in program history, were led by senior outside hitter Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco) who posted a double-double with 18 assists and 10 kills. He also had four digs, three blocks (one solo) and a pair of service aces. Saint Xavier recorded a team attack percentage of .272 (35-13-81) to GC's -.074 (21-28-95), and gained a measure of revenge after the Tigers eliminated SXU in the semifinals of the 2024 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament in five sets.

• Sophomore outside hitter Caydann Cox (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown/Jamestown) recorded seven kills, six digs, two assists and a block in his Cougar debut after transferring from University of Jamestown (N.D.).
• Junior opposite hitter Oskar Krzyzak (Now Sacz, Poland/Szkota Mistrzostwa Sportowego Rzeszow) also had seven kills, along with three blocks (two solos) and three digs.
• Sophomore setter Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) came away with 11 assists, four digs and an ace.
• Graduate student middle blocker Drew Ehlers (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) tied the single-match program record with four solo blocks, and he totaled five, while adding three kills, two service aces and a dig.
• Senior outside hitter Sean Carey (Skokie, Ill./Niles West) collected five digs, four kills and two aces.
• Sophomore middle blocker Camden Steckler (Manteca, Calif./Jamestown/Manteca) made his Saint Xavier debut after also transferring from Jamestown, finished with four blocks (one solo), four kills and two digs.
• Junior libero Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) tallied a match-high tying 11 digs and he had three assists.

No. 2 Saint Xavier (1-0/0-0 CCAC) continues play in the SXU Tournament, hosting No. 15 Indiana Institute of Technology on Friday, January 24. The match is scheduled for a 7:00 pm start at the Shannon Center.