CHICAGO – Multiple players established new career-highs as Saint Xavier University women's volleyball (5-13, 5-4 CCAC) rallied from a 2-1 deficit, including trailing 8-1 in the fifth set, to defeat Governors State University (Ill.) in five sets (19-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-10) in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) thriller Tuesday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Senior outside hitter
Aalyssa Gunn (Orlando, Fla./Trinity Christian/Orlando Christian Prep) surpassed 20 kills for the first time in her collegiate career, posting a match-best 21. Senior setter
Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) handed out a career-high 48 assists, and junior libero
Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) dug up a career-high, and match-leading, 27 digs. As a team, the Cougars recorded season-highs in kills (56), assists (53), and digs (78).
- Gunn also had four digs and a block, while Vann had three assists.
- Opilka posted her team-leading fifth double-double of the year with, coming away with 12 digs, two kills and two service aces. It was her fifth career match with 40 or more assists, and the second this season.
- Sophomore right side Ella O'Neill (Orland Park, Ill./Edgewood/Andrew) collected 14 kills, two digs, an ace and a solo block.
- Freshman middle blocker Addison Hoeniges (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) turned a 9-4 deficit into a 12-9 lead, forcing a GSU timeout in the fifth set. She finished the match with 10 kills, a career-best eight digs, a match-leading four blocks (one solo) and an assist.
- Junior defensive specialist Yuvia Velasquez (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) joined her teammates by setting a career-high in digs with 15.
- Junior middle blocker Ellie Graf (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Christian) recorded a career-high five kills and a dig.
- Junior middle blocker Eva Wintersteen (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) logged a career-best four digs, her first two collegiate service aces, two blocks and two kills.
- Senior outside hitter Kaylee Born (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) registered five digs, an ace and an assist, while senior middle blocker Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) chipped in two kills and a solo block.
Saint Xavier (5-13/5-4 CCAC) makes the short trip to Gary, Ind. to play Indiana University Northwest in a CCAC contest on Thursday, October 8. The match is scheduled for a 7:00 pm first serve.
