Santa Clarita, Calif. – In a rematch of the 2025 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship game, the No. 2 ranked Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (0-1/0-0 CCAC) lost to No. 1, and defending national champion, The Master's University in four sets (15-25, 25-19, 22-25, 17-25) in the 2026 season opener for both teams Thursday afternoon at the MacArthur Center in Santa Clarita, Calif. Graduate student opposite hitter Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco), the defending NAIA Player of the Year, posted a double-double for the Cougars after finishing with a match-high tying 16 kills on a .294 attack percentage (16-6-34) and 11 digs, along with a service ace. It's the second consecutive season that SXU started their season against the defending champion as they defeated Georgetown College (Ky.) to start the 2025 campaign in three sets at the Shannon Center.

• Junior setter Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) handed out 27 assists with nine digs and an ace.
• Junior outside hitter Caydann Cox (Helena, Mont./Jamestown/Jamestown) tallied eight kills, four digs and two blocks (one solo).
• Freshman middle blocker Hayden Grange (Mission Viejo, Calif./Trabuco Hills) was efficient in his collegiate debut, coming away with six kills on a .667 attack percentage (6-0-9) and a pair of blocks (one solo).
• Senior middle blocker Tysen Myers (Apple Valley, Minn./Jamestown/Eastview) had four kills and a dig in his Cougar debut after transferring from NCAA Division II Jamestown University (N.D.).
• Senior libero Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) collected eight digs and five assists.
• Freshman outside hitter Owen Krause (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) recorded a solo block in his collegiate debut.

No. 2 Saint Xavier (0-1/0-0 CCAC) returns to the court with a match at NCAA Division II Vanguard University (Calif.) on Friday, January 23 in Costa Mesa, Calif. The contest is scheduled for a 9:00 pm central first serve.