Saint Xavier Sweeps Men's Volleyball Weekly Awards

CHICAGO --- Saint Xavier University earned a clean sweep of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Volleyball Player of the Week awards when they were announced on Wednesday morning.  Gaining the recognition for the Cougar program were Matt Pennala (Long Beach, Calif.), Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and Cameron Daniels (Saint Xavier).

Pennala gained his second CCAC Attacker of the Week honor after averaging 4.43 kills per set and attacking at a .263 clip.  He also averaged 1.57 digs per set and posted five service aces and 26 receptions.

In a pair of wins on Saturday, the junior outside hitter averaged 4.25 kills via a .378 attack percentage in a four-set victory over Viterbo University and 4.67 kills in an upset three-set decision over NAIA No. 7 University of Jamestown (N. Dak.).  In the former affair, Pennala also registered 26 receptions, three aces and seven digs.

Velez claimed both NAIA and CCAC Defender of the Week accolades after averaging 4.29 digs per set and a .976 reception percentage in the two victories.  The sophomore libero averaged 4.25 digs with 21 receptions in the Viterbo win. 

In the upset victory against Jamestown, Velez produced a 4.33 digs-per-set average and did not make an error in 20 pass attempts.

Daniels completed the trifecta with his 11.0 assist and 1.71 digs averages to land CCAC Setter of the Week accord.  The freshman's top performance came in the upset of Jamestown, where he totaled 44 assists (14.67 avg.) and seven digs.

Earlier that day, Daniels averaged 8.25 assists and posted five digs and two blocks in the Viterbo win.

The wins were the first two on the season for the NAIA No. 13-ranked Cougars.  They are 2-5 on the young campaign.

Other Attacker Nominees: Andrea DiPaola (Roosevelt), Nick Fox (St. Ambrose), Daniel Lopez (Calumet St. Joseph), Mason Snodgrass (Judson).

Other Defender Nominees: Grant Shipley (Judson), Gioele Iacono (Calumet St. Joseph), Ethan Karban (St. Ambrose), Miguel Mendez Palencia (Roosevelt).

Other Setter Nominees: Elijah Wrobel (Judson), Anthony Anderson (St. Ambrose), Michele Bascape (Roosevelt), Brayden Richardson (Calumet St. Joseph).