Sweep of League Wins Leads To Sweep of Women's Volleyball Weekly Honors For SXU
CHICAGO --- A sweep of league wins led to a sweep of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference women's volleyball weekly honors for the Saint Xavier University program on Tuesday afternoon after it was announced that Cougar players Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill.), Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) and Samantha Hovey (Mackinaw, Ill.) were all welcomed back on the awards stand.
Martinez earned her third CCAC Defender of the Week award after averaging 7.46 digs per set and turning in a perfect 43-for-43 passing mark. She also added four service aces.
The senior libero hit a career high with her 38 digs in a five-set win over St. Ambrose University on Saturday. She produced 18 receptions in the same match.
Martinez produced back-to-back 23-dig efforts to open the week, securing those numbers in a four-set victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Tuesday and a three-set decision over Indiana University Northwest on Thursday.
Jensen notched her second CCAC Attacker of the Week award by totaling no less than 12 kills in each of the three matches she appeared in en route to averaging 3.42 kills per set during the seven-day period ending Oct. 26. She also attacked at a .228 clip.
Like Martinez, Jensen had a career night with her 16 kills in the win over St. Ambrose. The senior right-side attacker added 13 kills versus Indiana Northwest and 12 opposite Olivet Nazarene. She also recorded 15 digs over the three matches.
Hovey snared CCAC Setter of the Week accolades for the second time this season after having three strong all-around performances. Not only did the senior average 6.43 assists per match, but she also put up 3.29 digs per set and nearly two kills per game. Her other numbers included five aces and two blocks over her 14 sets played.
Hovey began the week with a season-high 30 assists and 14 digs in the Olivet Nazarene match. She went on to record 27 assists against both Indiana Northwest and St. Ambrose, while also delivering 12 and 17 digs, respectively.
Saint Xavier went 3-1 on the week, moving the Cougars' records to 14-7 overall and 12-3 in the CCAC.
Other Attacker Nominees: Trenyce Bonner (Governors State), Alyssa Burke (Judson), Delani Kirstein (St. Francis), Jada Mitchell (Viterbo), Sarah Neighbors (Trinity Christian), Raniyah Preston (Indiana Northwest).
Other Defender Nominees: Makenzie Ritsema (Trinity Christian), Sadie Treptow (Viterbo), Lindsey Krueger (Indiana Northwest), Esabella Lee (Judson), Ann Simon (St. Francis).
Other Setter Nominees: Maddie Connor (Viterbo), Gabi Lilovich (Indiana Northwest), Alexah Martinez (Governors State), Alina Romero (Judson), Sharide Sykes (Trinity Christian), Alyssa Teske (St. Francis).