CHICAGO – Graduate student opposite hitter
Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco) was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Men's Volleyball Attacker of the Week and junior setter
Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) claimed CCAC Men's Volleyball Setter of the Week for the No. 2 ranked Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (1-2/0-0 CCAC) when the awards were announced by the league office, the first CCAC Player of the Week awards issued for the 2026 season. It is the 11
th time for Daniels that he has won Setter of the week, while it is the eighth time that Pennela has been named Attacker of the Week.
- Pennala totaled 46 kills on a .348 attack percentage (46-15-89), 25 digs, three blocks (one solo), three service aces and two assists in three matches for the Cougars. He finished with 10 or more kills in all three matches, along with two double-doubles. Pennala started the season with 16 kills and 11 digs in a four-set loss to No. 1 The Master's University (Calif.) last Thursday. He tallied a match-best 17 kills on a .577 attack percentage (17-2-26) and 19 digs in a three-set win over NCAA Division II Vanguard University (Calif.) on Friday. Pennala capped the week with 13 kills, four digs and three blocks (one solo) in a three-set defeat against NCAA Division I Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) on Saturday.
- Daniels passes the SXU offense with 95 assists, averaging 9.50 assists per set in 10 sets, adding 19 digs, four aces, three blocks (two solos) and two kills. He collected 28 assists, nine digs and a service ace at The Master's. Daniels posted 38 assists, six digs, three blocks and a kill in the win at Vanguard. He added 29 assists, four digs, three aces and a kill at Concordia Irvine.
No. 2 Saint Xavier (1-2/0-0 CCAC) plays its home opener vs. No. 3 St. Thomas University (Fla.) at the Shannon Center on Thursday, January 29. First serve is slated for 7:00 pm.
