CHICAGO – The No. 2 ranked Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (7-0/1-0 CCAC) tied its single-match program record with 16 services aces in a three-set victory (25-13, 25-16, 25-12) over Olivet Nazarene University in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both programs Tuesday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. It was the sixth time that the Cougars tallied 16 aces in a match, and the first time since February 22, 2023 at Goshen College (Ind.). It was also the first time SXU hit that mark in three sets since March 1, 2014 at Cincinnati Christian University (Ohio).
- Senior opposite hitter/setter Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco) posted a match-best 11 kills, along with seven assists, a career-high tying five service aces and four digs.
- Sophomore outside hitter Caydann Cox (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown/Jamestown) recorded seven digs, seven kills, two assists and an ace.
- Sophomore setter Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) dished out 18 assists with six digs, four service aces and a pair of kills.
- Junior opposite hitter Oskar Krzyzak (Now Sacz, Poland/Szkota Mistrzostwa Sportowego Rzeszow) registered four aces, four kills, an assist and a dig.
- Graduate student middle blocker Drew Ehlers (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) came away with four kills, a block and a service ace.
- Junior libero Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) scooped up a match-leading 12 digs, along with three assists and ace.
- Freshman middle blocker Kyle Petrusch (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) had three kills, a block and a dig.
- Redshirt senior outside hitter Vejas Cuplinskas (Riverside, Ill./Riverside Brookfield) added three blocks (one solo) and two kills.
No. 2 Saint Xavier (7-0/1-0 CCAC) takes on No. Benedictine University Mesa (Ariz.) at the Shannon Center on Friday, February 14. The match is set for a 7:00 pm start.
