Viterbo, Saint Xavier To Meet For Women's Volleyball Tourney Title
CHICAGO ---- No. 3 seed Saint Xavier University provided the first upset of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament, while top-seeded and NAIA No. 16-ranked Viterbo University extended its winning streak to 37 matches against league foes in semifinal-round action on Thursday night.
Saint Xavier (18-9) went back and forth with No. 2 University of St. Francis before prevailing in five games, while No. 4 Trinity Christian challenged Viterbo (26-8) before the V-Hawks won in four games.
That sets up Saturday's 1 pm title match at Viterbo with both teams already assured a bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round next week. The V-Hawks gained their bid by winning the regular-season crown, while SXU earns its berth by either winning the tournament championship or finishing as the runner-up.
Saint Xavier is hoping the third time will be the charm. In their previous two meetings this year, Viterbo came away with a pair of four-set decisions. The V-Hawks hosted SXU in the first match on Sept. 6, while the Cougars were the home team in the Oct. 10 contest.
Recapping Thursday:
Viterbo def. Trinity Christian 25-16, 25-14, 22-25, 26-24
Trinity Christian forced the V-Hawks to an extended fourth set to nearly rally from an initial 2-0 deficit. Viterbo had four players total at least eight kills, led by Hailee Halverson's 12. Sadie Treptow and Izzy Jahn each had 11. Jada Mitchell provided eight kills and nine blocks. Dej'a Williams and Sarah Neighbors each had 10 kills for the Trolls, while Sharide Sykes had another solid all-around match with her 18 assists, 13 digs and eight kills.
Saint Xavier def. St. Francis 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9
After falling to St. Francis in five games during the regular season, Saint Xavier returned the favor on Thursday. Delaney Panozzo and Carrington Smith were a force both offensively and defensively. Both players authored 16 kills with Panozzo registering five blocks and Smith four. Samantha Hovey also authored a triple-double with her 10 kills, 25 assists and 23 digs. Avanna Martinez led the defensive charge with her 32 digs. USF's Alyssa Teske matched Hovey with her own triple-double (19 kills, 21 assists, 14 digs). Riley Hungate contributed another 14 kills and Mya Broadway 30 digs.
The remaining tournament schedule and results follow:
Tuesday, November 11 - First Round
• Match #1: No. 1 Viterbo def. No. 8 Indiana Northwest 25-11, 25-9, 25-15
• Match #2: No. 4 Trinity Christian def. No. 5 Governors State 25-16, 18-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-12
• Match #3: No. 2 St. Francis def. No. 7 Indiana South Bend 25-14, 18-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-9
• Match #4: No. 3 Saint Xavier def. No. 6 Olivet Nazarene 25-22, 25-18, 17-25, 25-13
Thursday, November 13 - Semifinal Round
• Match #5: No. 1 Viterbo def. No. 4 Trinity Christian 25-16, 25-14, 22-25, 26-24
• Match #6: No. 3 Saint Xavier def. No. 2 St. Francis 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9
Saturday, November 15 – Championship
• Match #7: No. 3 Saint Xavier (18-9) at No. 1 Viterbo (26-8) --- 1 pm