League Wins Secure Weekly Men's Volleyball Honors For SXU's Pennala, Velez, Daniels

CHICAGO --- Aided by a pair of league straight-set wins, Saint Xavier University was able to capture all three Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference men's volleyball weekly awards for the third time this year when they were announced on Tuesday.  Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif.), Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb.) earned the recognition with their play during the seven-day period from March 2-8.

Daniels hit a high five with his fifth CCAC Setter of the Week award.  He handed out 63 assists, or an average of 10.5 per set, to go along with nine digs, five service aces, two blocks and a pair of kills. 

The junior rang up 34 assists In a match against Governors State University on Thursday.  That same night, he became just the second player in SXU history to surpass 2,000 assists for his career.

Daniels added another 29 assists and six digs in a three-set decision over Olivet Nazarene University last Tuesday.

Pennala picked up his third CCAC Attacker of the Week award, highlighted by his 17 kills and .500 hitting percentage in the win over Governors State.  He also produced five digs and five blocks in the match.

The graduate outside hitter recorded another six kills, three aces, three digs and two blocks in the win opposite Olivet Nazarene.

For the two matches combined, Pennala averaged 3.83 kills per set with a .333 hitting mark.

Velez also produced his third CCAC Defender of the Week honor by averaging 3.83 digs per set and converting 14 receptions without an error in the 2-0 week for SXU.  The majority of the senior libero's digs on the week – 19 – came in the win against Governors State.

The NAIA No. 2-ranked Cougars remained unbeaten in conference play (6-0) and are 15-2 overall.      

Other Attacker Nominees: Owen Collitt (Viterbo), Caimin Harrop-Haywood (Calumet St. Joseph), Reece Thompson (Judson).

Other Defender Nominees: Styrk Myhre (Viterbo), Lucas Sanchez Caixeta (Calumet St. Joseph), Ramsey Vuorenmaa (Judson).

Other Setter Nominees: John Agee (Calumet St. Joseph), Logan Amdur (Viterbo), Jackson Otto (Judson).