La Crosse, Wis. – Senior setter
Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill./Heartland/Dee-Mack) recorded her third consecutive double-double, finishing the match with a team-highs of 19 assists and 10 kills, however the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (1-4, 0-1 CCAC) lost its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) opener in four sets (25-22, 19-25, 9-25, 21-25) to No. 12 Viterbo University (Wis.) Saturday afternoon in La Crosse, Wis. Hovey added eight digs, two service aces and a block for the Cougars. Through five matches to start the season, she leads SXU in total kills (39) and assists (90). Junior outside hitter
Kaylee Born (Plainfield, Ill./Oswego East) posted a season-high eight kills for Saint Xavier while adding a block.
- Senior middle blocker Nicole Grochola (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) came away with six kills on a .600 attack percentage (6-0-10) with a block.
- Senior outside hitter Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill./Cardinal Stritch/Sandburg) also contributed six kills for the Cougars.
- Fifth year senior libero Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Ponceno) scooped up 12 digs, her fifth straight match with 10 or more digs, as well as recording four assists and a team-best three aces.
- Sophomore middle blocker Carrington Smith (Flossmoor, Ill./Marian Catholic) collected two blocks (one solo), two kills and a pair of service aces.
- Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) and senior outside hitter Tara Glynn (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) each had three kills, respectively. Glynn added an assist and a dig, while Panozzo had a dig.
- Junior setter Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) handed out 11 assists with four digs and an ace.
- Sophomore libero Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) registered a team-high and season-best 13 digs.
- Senior defensive specialist Ariel Hoskin (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) totaled seven digs, while graduate student defensive specialist/setter Katie DeHaan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) chipped in six digs and two assists for SXU.
Saint Xavier (1-4/0-1 CCAC) makes the short trip over the state line to Whiting, Ind. to take on Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) in CCAC action on Tuesday, September 9. The match is slated for a 7:00 pm first serve.
