GSU's Antunez, Byas, SXU's Daniels Keep Teams In Title Hunt, Capture Weekly Men's VB Honors

CHICAGO --- Keeping their teams in the hunt for the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title, Governors State University's Diego Antunez (Machiques, Venezuela) and Jared Byas (Frankfort, Ill.) and Saint Xavier University's Cameron Daniels (Omaha, Neb.) used their play during the seven-day period ending March 22 to notch men's volleyball weekly league honors.  The conference office made the announcement on Tuesday morning.

Daniels boosted his CCAC Setter of the Week honors up to six on the season by averaging 12.6 assists over his three matches and ten sets played.  He also was tough on defense with seven blocks and 13 digs.  His other numbers included six service aces.

The junior recorded his second-most assists of the season when he delivered 55 in a four-set win over St. Ambrose University on Saturday.  That match also included four aces, four digs and two blocks.

That same day, Daniels distributed the ball another 38 times to go along with five digs in a three-set victory opposite Bethel University (Ind.).

Two nights earlier, in a straight-set victory over Trinity Christian College on Thursday, Daniels had five blocks, four digs, two aces and 33 assists. 

Saint Xavier remains No. 2 in the nation at 20-3 overall.  In the league, the Cougars remain perfect at 9-0.

Byas gained his second straight CCAC Defender of the Week award and third overall on the season courtesy of his 3.8 digs per set and 56 receptions in 57 attempts in a pair of league victories.

The junior libero averaged 4.4 digs (22 total) with 27 passes in a five-set victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Thursday.  On Tuesday, he was perfect in 29 pass attempts with 16 digs in another five-set contest, this time versus Judson University.

A total of 40 kills – 4.0 average – over two matches resulted in Antunez garnering CCAC Attacker of the Week distinction.  Added to that were his 64 passes without an error and an average of 2.1 digs per set.

The junior outside hitter put up 21 kills, 39 receptions, 14 digs and two blocks in the Judson win.  He then went on to total 19 kills, seven digs and two blocks versus Olivet Nazarene.

Winners of five in a row, Governors State sits in second place in the conference standings, 1.5 matches in back of Saint Xavier.  The Jaguars are 13-9 overall and 7-1 in league play.      

Other Attacker Nominees: Michael Bos (St. Ambrose), Matt Pennala (Saint Xavier), Caimin Harrop-Haywood (Calumet St. Joseph), Styrk Myhre (Viterbo), Cade Ooms (Olivet Nazarene).

Other Defender Nominees: Styrk Myhre (Viterbo), Lucas Sanchez Caixeta (Calumet St. Joseph), Ethan Karban (St. Ambrose), Andres Velez (Saint Xavier).

Other Setter Nominees: Logan Amdur (Viterbo), Anthony Anderson (St. Ambrose), Tomas Gonzalez (Olivet Nazarene), Elias Stommel (Governors State).