Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team (0-2, 0-0 CCAC) started the 2026 campaign with a pair of losses at the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Onset Tournament Saturday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Cougars lost to No. 11 Missouri Baptist University in three sets (13-25, 10-25, 14-25) in their first match of the day and they lost to Indiana Tech University in three sets (23-25, 17-25, 18-25) to conclude the tournament. Junior libero
Taylor Vann (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness Catholic) was strong defensively, totaling 27 digs, senior setter
Abbey Opilka (Dyer, Ind./Hanover Central) collected 18 assists in both matches, and senior middle blocker
Delaney Panozzo (Grant Park, Ill./Grant Park) posted nine kills on the afternoon.
Match One:
- Vann scooped up a team-high 12 digs with two assists and a service ace.
- Opilka handed out seven assists with three digs and a kill.
- Panozzo finished with three digs, three kills and a solo block.
- Freshman middle blocker Addison Hoeniges (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) came away with three kills and three blocks in her collegiate debut.
- Junior middle blocker Ellie Graf (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Christian) had a pair of kills, an assist, a dig and a solo block.
- Junior outside hitter Laura Ahlstedt (Roselle, Ill./Harper/Lake Park) logged two blocks, two kills and a dig in her SXU debut.
- Junior setter Raeley Mungcal (Tinley Park, Ill./Benedictine/Tinley Park) had five assists, an ace and a dig.
- Sophomore right side Ella O'Neill (Orland Park, Ill./Edgewood/Andrew) booked two kills and a block in her Saint Xavier debut.
- Senior outside hitter Aalyssa Gunn (Orlando, Fla./Trinity Christian/Orlando Christian Prep) collected a dig, a kill and a service ace in her Cougar debut.
- Senior outside hitter Kaylee Born (Plainfield, Ill./Oswego East) added two kills and freshman defensive specialist Emma Smola (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) chipped in two digs in her collegiate debut.
Match Two:
- Vann posted a match-best 15 digs along with two assists and an ace.
- Opilka dished out 11 assists with three digs, a kill and a service ace.
- Panozzo tied for the team lead with six kills, adding two blocks (one solo).
- Gunn totaled six kills as well and chipping in three digs.
- Hoeniges collected two blocks, two kills, an ace and a dig.
- Born logged two kills and a dig.
- Junior middle blocker Eva Wintersteen (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) had a pair of kills in her season debut.
- Mungcal booked five assists and two digs.
- Smola came away with five digs and two service aces.
- Junior defensive specialist Yuvia Velasquez (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) added an ace and a dig.
Saint Xavier (0-2/0-0 CCAC) travels to Grand Rapids, Mich. to take on No. 21 Cornerstone University (Mich.) on Tuesday, August 25. The match is slated for a 6:00 pm central first serve.
