St. Charles, Mo. - Despite a combined 53 kills and 49 digs by sophomore outside hitter Aaron Porter (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South), the Saint Xavier University men's volleyball team struggled over the weekend dropping all five of its matches at the Lindenwood University Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. The Cougars (2-6 overall) dropped their two Friday matches to the host Lions and Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.) and then lost to Graceland University (Iowa), Missouri Baptist University (Mo.) and Park University (Mo.) on Saturday.

SXU never really got into a rhythm in Friday's opening match against Lindenwood falling in three sets by scores of 15-25, 12-25 and 16-25. Porter led the Cougars offensively with seven kills, while freshman libero Johnathan Hernandez (Berwyn, Ill./Morton CC/Morton) was solid on the defensive side with 19 digs. In its second match of the night, Saint Xavier played tougher, but ultimately dropped the match in four sets 23-25, 20-25, 25-22 and 18-25. Porter led the way again with nine kills and three aces, while Hernandez finished the match with 24 digs. Freshman setter Kevin Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) was also tough in the match posting 34 assists and 10 digs.

Saturday's morning match with Graceland proved to be more of the same as SXU won a set, but lost the match 21-25, 25-20, 15-25 and 18-25. Porter finished with a team-high 10 kills and Hernandez recorded 14 digs. The Cougars got off on the right foot in their next match with Missouri Baptist winning the opening set 25-20, but then dropped the next three 21-25, 22-25 and 18-25. Porter led Saint Xavier in both kills and digs with 18 and 17, respectively. Hernandez and Maxwell both posted 16 digs in the match, while Maxwell also contributed 37 assists. SXU's final match of the Invitational against Park was a tough one decided in three sets 20-25, 18-25 and 14-25. Porter was solid again both offensively and defensively with team-bests of nine kills and 10 digs. Maxwell finished the final match with 24 assists.

Saint Xavier (2-6 overall/2-0 MAMVIC) heads downtown on Tuesday, February 8, to take on Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) newcomer Robert Morris University (Ill.). The road match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at the Gentile Center in Chicago.