Saint Xavier Sweeps Men's Volleyball Weekly Honors For Second Time This Season

CHICAGO --- For the second time this season, Saint Xavier University has swept the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference men's volleyball weekly awards after earning a pair of wins over NAIA Top 15 clubs, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.  Making it happen for the Cougar program were repeat winners Jan Lopuch (Krakow, Poland), Andres Velez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and Christian Oviedo (Brea, Calif.).

Lopuch captured his second CCAC Attacker of the Week award after producing a .424 hitting percentage and a 3.78 kills-per-set average in the two wins.  He also made good on all but one of his 49 pass attempts, had four blocks and totaled 14 digs (1.56 average).

The sophomore outside hitter turned in a match-high 20 kills to go along with a .452 attack percentage in a four-set win over No. 7 Georgetown College (Ky.) on Friday.  Last Tuesday, he registered a double-double with his 14 kills (.393 hitting clip) and 10 digs in a five-set victory opposite No. 13 Lourdes University (Ohio).

Velez was named the CCAC Defender of the Week for the third time in 2024.  His two-match totals included a 2.44 digs-per-set average and a .980 reception percentage with only one error in 51 chances.

The sophomore libero recorded 18 digs (3.60 average), while making good on each of his 27 reception attempts in the victory over Lourdes.  That was followed by another 23 receptions and four more digs in the Georgetown contest.

Oviedo netted CCAC Setter of the Week accolades for the third time, as well, by averaging just under ten assists per set (9.89) over the two matches, not to mention 1.44 digs per set.  He recorded 44 assists and eight digs in the Lourdes match and 45 assists (11.25 avg.) and five digs in the contest against Georgetown.

Saint Xavier, winners of eight straight matches, is 14-8 overall an a perfect 7-0 against CCAC competition.  The Cougars are also ranked No. 10 in the nation.      

Other Attacker Nominees: Ethan Davis (Viterbo), Nick Fox (St. Ambrose).

Other Defender Nominees: Nick Fox (St. Ambrose).

Other Setter Nominees: Juan Banda (Viterbo).