CHICAGO – Senior setter
Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill./Heartland/Dee-Mack) continued her strong play to start the 2025 season, posting her sixth consecutive double-double coming away with 21 assists and 16 digs to help lead the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (4-4, 2-1 CCAC) to a three-set triumph (25-15, 25-20, 25-17) over Lourdes University (Ohio) in a non-conference match Saturday afternoon on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. The Cougars evened up the season series at 1-1 after losing in five sets to the Gray Wolves two weeks ago in Sylvania, Ohio on August 30. Hovey added seven kills service ace and a solo block as SXU ran its winning streak to three.
- Senior outside hitter Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill./Cardinal Stritch/Sandburg) led Saint Xavier with 11 kills on a .300 attack percentage (11-2-30) while adding five digs and a block.
- Senior middle blocker Nicole Grochola (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) posted nine kills on a .364 attack percentage (9-1-22) and she had a block.
- Sophomore middle blocker Carrington Smith (Flossmoor, Ill./Marian Catholic) registered eight kills on an efficient .467 attack percentage (8-1-15), along with three digs, two aces and a block.
- Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) also tallied eight kills on a .304 attack percentage (8-1-23), adding two blocks (one solo) and a pair of digs.
- Senior outside hitter Tara Glynn (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) recorded five kills and two digs.
- Junior setter Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) dished out 12 assists while adding a dig and a service ace.
- Fifth year senior libero Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Ponceno) scooped up a match-best 19 digs, as well as recording seven assists and two aces.
- Graduate student defensive specialist Katie DeHaan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) collected 11 a season-high 11 digs to go along with two service aces.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) had five digs, an ace and an assist.
Saint Xavier (4-4/2-1 CCAC) returns to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play when they travel to Bourbonnais, Ill. to face Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on Tuesday, September 16. The match is slated of a 7:00 pm start.
*Recap updated after review of game film.