CHICAGO – In a matchup of the first and second place teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (10-5, 8-2 CCAC) had its nine-match winning streak come to an end, losing to No. 16 Viterbo University (Wis.) in four sets (25-27, 25-21, 18-25, 13-25) Friday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Senior setter
Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill./Heartland/Dee-Mack) posted her team-leading 11
th double-double of the season, collecting a match-high 24 assists along with 11 digs. She added seven kills, a team-best three blocks (one solo) and a service ace. The Cougars recorded 74 digs as a team, with four players coming away with 10 or more digs, the sixth time in 2025 that they have had 70 or more digs in a match.
- Sophomore middle blocker Carrington Smith (Flossmoor, Ill./Marian Catholic) led SXU with 11 kills. She now has 10 or more kills in five consecutive matches. Smith also had two blocks and a dig.
- Fifth year senior libero Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Ponceno) continued her tough defensive play, registering a match-leading 27 digs, her third-best effort this year. It was the sixth time in 2025 that she had 20 or more digs in a match. Martinez added four assists and an ace.
- Senior middle blocker Nicole Grochola (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) recorded eight kills and a block.
- Junior setter Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) dished out 14 assists, along with four digs and a service ace.
- Sophomore middle blocker Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) finished with seven kills, a block and a dig.
- Senior outside hitter Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill./Cardinal Stritch/Sandburg) had six kills and an assist.
- Graduate student defensive specialist Katie DeHaan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) scooped up 11 digs, tied for her second-highest total this year, and her fourth match with 10 or more digs.
- Senior defensive specialist Ariel Hoskin (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) chipped in 10 digs, the third time this season that she had 10 or more digs in a match.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) chipped in six digs and a match-best two aces.
- Senior outside hitter Tara Glynn (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) tallied three digs and three kills.
Saint Xavier (10-5/8-2 CCAC) has a quick turnaround as they travel to Palos Heights, Ill. to play Trinity Christian College (Ill.) on a CCAC contest on Saturday, October 11. The match is scheduled for an 11:00 am start.
