CHICAGO – Graduate student opposite hitter Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach City/St. John Bosco) recorded a team-best 13 kills, along with six digs, two service aces, an assist and a block to help guide the No. 2 ranked Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team (2-2/0-0 CCAC) to a four-set victory (25-19, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21) over No. 3 St. Thomas University (Fla.) Thursday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. The win tied for the highest win against a ranked opponent that the Cougars have defeated in program history. SXU defeated No. 3 Grand View University in Pool play in three sets at the 2024 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament on May 2, 2024. Saint Xavier is now 2-2 all-time against a team that is ranked No. 3 in the NAIA.

The Cougars posted a season-high 11 blocks (eight solos), and they tied for their season-high with six service aces. SXU recorded a .284 attack percentage (43-14-102), their second-best effort to begin the season.

• Junior setter Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) paced the offense, handing out 33 assists. He added six digs, two blocks (one solo), two kills and an ace.
• Junior outside hitter Caydann Cox (Helena, Mont./Jamestown/Jamestown) came away with eight kills, four blocks (three solos) and four digs.
• Freshman middle blocker Nikolay Kotevski (Sofia, Bulgaria/Britanica Park School) finished with a career-high seven kills on a .500 attack percentage (7-0-14), a career-best four blocks (two solos), two assists and a dig.
• Freshman outside hitter Owen Krause (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) recorded a career-high in kills as well with seven. He also had an assist, a dig and a solo block.
• Senior middle blocker Tysen Myers (Apple Valley, Minn./Jamestown/Eastview) registered six kills and two blocks (one solo).
• Senior libero Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) scooped up a team-high eight digs, along with three assists.
• Freshman middle blocker Hayden Grange (Mission Viejo, Calif./Trabuco Hills) had a pair of service aces, while freshman outside hitter Henry Truitt (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) added his first collegiate ace.

No. 2 Saint Xavier (2-2/0-0 CCAC) returns to action on Saturday, January 31 when they host No. 7 Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) at the Shannon Center. The non-conference contest is slated for a 7:00 pm start.