CHICAGO – Sophomore middle blocker
Carrington Smith (Flossmoor, Ill./Marian Catholic) had a big night, coming away with a career-high 15 kills on a stellar .625 attack percentage (15-0-24), along with four blocks (two solos) and three digs, while redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) added 12 kills on an impressive .440 attack percentage (12-1-25), a career-best seven digs and three blocks (two solos) to help guide the No. 3 seeded Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (17-9, 14-4 CCAC) to a 3-1 victory (25-22, 25-18, 17-25, 25-13) over No. 6 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament Quarterfinals Tuesday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. The win propels the Cougars into the CCAC Tournament Semifinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
SXU was tough at the net, posting a season-high 12 total blocks (eight solos) and tying for their seventh-best digging effort of the year with 75. Saint Xavier also recorded a team attack percentage of .316 (57-9-152), their second-best attack percentage of the 2025 campaign, while tying for the fourth-most kills in a match with 57, as well as their fourth-highest total in assists with 52.
- Senior setter Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill./Heartland/Dee-Mack) helped to pace the offense with 29 assists. She added 16 digs for her team-leading 16th double-double of the season. Hovey also had seven kills and a pair of blocks.
- Junior setter Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) aided in the offensive attack with 16 assists, while adding six digs and a kill.
- Senior outside hitter Tara Glynn (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) tallied nine kills, a season-high seven digs, an assist and a solo block to end the match.
- Senior middle blocker Nicole Grochola (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) registered nine kills as well as three blocks (one solo).
- Fifth year senior libero Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Ponceno) scooped up 15 digs while adding four assists and a service ace.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) finished with 10 digs, her fifth match with 10 or more digs this season, and an assist.
- Senior outside hitter Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill./Cardinal Stritch/Sandburg) collected four kills, three blocks (two solos) and three digs.
- Senior defensive specialist Ariel Hoskin (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) totaled five digs and an assist, while graduate student defensive specialist Katie DeHaan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) chipped in three digs in the win.
No. 3 Saint Xavier (17-9/14-4 CCAC) travels to Joliet, Ill. to take on No. 2 University of St. Francis (Ill.) in the CCAC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday, November 13. Time of the match has yet to be determined.
