SXU Sweeps Women's Volleyball Awards After Upsetting NAIA No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan

CHICAGO --- A big week has landed Saint Xavier University a sweep of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Player of the Week awards for the seven-day period ending Sept. 4, the league office announced on Tuesday.  Molly Hackett (Frankfort, Ill.), Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) and Kaleigh Ritter (Tinley Park, Ill.) all helped the Cougars go 3-0 on the week, including an upset of NAIA No. 11-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University.

Hackett landed the CCAC Attacker of the Week award after averaging 4.5 kills with a .209 attack percentage.  Her other numbers included a 3.1 digs-per-set average, two blocks and a pair of aces over her three matches.

The senior outside hitter recorded a pair of double-doubles during the week topped by her 16-kill, 12-dig match in the upset win over Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday at the University of St. Francis (Ill.) Big Dogs Classic.  She also performed the feat (14 kills, 10 digs) in a league win over Cardinal Stritch University on Thursday.

Hackett just missed her third double-double by one dig in a 15-kill performance versus Loyola University New Orleans on Saturday.

Martinez garnered CCAC Defender of the Week honors by boasting no less than 16 digs in each of her three matches for a 5.75 average.  The highlight was the sophomore libero's season-high 23 digs and career-best four aces versus Cardinal Stritch.

Ritter collected her second straight CCAC Setter of the Week award after topping the 11.0 mark on assists with her 11.1 average.  Also included was a 3.5 digs-per-set average and three blocks over her three matches.

The sophomore setter turned in double-doubles in two of her three matches with 36 assists and 16 digs versus Loyola New Orleans and 38 assists and 10 digs opposite Indiana Wesleyan in back-to-back, three-set contests on Saturday.

Saint Xavier doubled its win count on the season with its three victories last week.  The Cougars are now 6-1 on the year and among others receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Other Attacker Nominees: Jill Kavalauskas (St. Ambrose), Brianna Torres (Trinity International), Alyssa Stilley (Roosevelt), Dunja Tatic (Governors State), Sydney Hoffman (Cardinal Stritch), Sincere Northern (Calumet St. Joseph).

Other Defender Nominees: Maicee Pierce (St. Ambrose), Jaylyn Freeman (Trinity International), Vaiva Blistrabas (Roosevelt), Ivana Novakovic (Governors State), Alivia Marks (Cardinal Stritch), Jenine Boyles (Calumet St. Joseph).

Other Setter Nominees: Neenah Primas (St. Ambrose), Anna Skrzypchak (Trinity International), Zoe Hutchinson (Roosevelt), Yareli Pacheco (Governors State), Savanna Carleton (Cardinal Stritch), Rebecca Larios (Calumet St. Joseph).