Saint Xavier University - News

[Volleyball] Three SXU Volleyball Players Named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:45:00 -0600

Kansas City, Mo. – Three Saint Xavier University women's volleyball players were recently named 2012 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the NAIA national office in Kansas City, Mo. Seniors Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./Radford University/Mother McAuley), Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) and Colleen O'Hara (Lemont, Ill./University of Iowa/Lemont) represented SXU as three of the 408 players to earn the 2012 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction. In order to be nominated, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and achieved junior academic status. Hastings (Neb.) and Indiana Tech led all NAIA institutions with each fielding eight individuals on the list.

[Volleyball] Aramburu, Knudsen Earn NAIA & AVCA All-America Honors

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:40:00 -0600

Kansas City, Mo. – Saint Xavier University women's volleyball seniors Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./Radford University/Mother McAuley) and Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) both earned honorable mention recognition on both the 2012 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball All-America Team and 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Team when the NAIA national office released the awards earlier this week. Last week, Aramburu and Knudsen were named to the 2012 AVCA NAIA All-Mideast Region First Team.

[Volleyball] Aramburu, Knudsen Named to AVCA NAIA All-Region Team

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:45:00 -0600

Lexington, Ky. – Saint Xavier University women's volleyball seniors Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./Radford University/Mother McAuley) and Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) were both named to the 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NAIA All-Mideast Region First Team when the awards were announced Wednesday. Aramburu, a setter, and Knudsen, an outside hitter, were among 14 total players announced for the Mideast Region First Team with fellow Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) members Trinity Christian College (Ill.) and University of St. Francis (Ill.) also boasting two honorees.

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Volleyball Ends Season With Loss to No. 15 Madonna

Rob Huizenga — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:15:00 -0600

Livonia, Mich. – Senior outside hitter Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) finished with a team-best 11 kills and nine digs, but the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team ended its 2012 campaign with a loss to No. 15 ranked Madonna University (Mich.) in the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championships Opening Round Saturday afternoon in Livonia, Mich. The Cougars fell in four sets by scores of 18-25, 15-25, 25-23 and 16-25. SXU ends the season with a 31-13 overall record and earned its second trip to the NAIA Volleyball National Championships in the past three seasons.

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Volleyball Prepares for Nationals

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:45:00 -0600

CHICAGO - In preparation for the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team's Opening Round match against No. 15 Madonna University (Mich.) on Saturday, November 17, the SXU Sports Information Office talked to each of the players as well as head coach Bob Heersema to get their reactions about the season and Saturday's big match-up. Access the interviews of the volleyball team by clicking on the video player below. The opening round match of the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championships will be held in Livonia, Mich., and begins at 11 a.m. (central) Saturday. Fans unable to make it to Livonia for the match have the option to watch it live online at the link below.

[Volleyball] SXU Volleyball Draws No. 15 Madonna in NAIA Opening Round

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:00:00 -0600

Kansas City, Mo. - Earning the program's third NAIA Volleyball National Championship appearance and second bid in the last three seasons, the Saint Xavier University women's volleyball team will take on No. 15 Madonna University (Mich.) in the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round on Saturday, November 17, in Livonia, Mich. The Cougars are one of 24 squads that will face off in opening round play, while the top 11 ranked qualifying teams, plus host school Morningside University (Iowa), will automatically receive a bye for the remainder of the National Championship, which takes place in Sioux City, Iowa, starting on Tuesday, November 27. The opening round match is tentatively scheduled for a 12 p.m. (eastern) start Saturday at the Madonna Activities Center in Livonia, Mich.

[Volleyball] O'Hara Shines; SXU Falls to St. Francis in CCAC Championship

Rob Huizenga — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 23:55:00 -0600

Joliet, Ill. – Senior middle blocker Colleen O'Hara (Lemont, Ill./University of Iowa/Lemont) led the way with a match-best 13 kills, but the No. 2 seeded Saint Xavier University volleyball team failed to slow down No. 1 seed University of St. Francis (Ill.) Saturday and dropped the championship match of the 2012 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Volleyball Tournament at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, Ill. The Cougars fell in three sets by scores of 18-25, 14-25 and 18-25. After the match, SXU senior setter Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./Radford University/Mother McAuley) was named the 2012 CCAC Volleyball Player of the Year joining O'Hara and senior outside hitter Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) on the first team all-conference squad, while senior libero Christine Bowe (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and senior outside hitter Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) garnered spots on the second team.

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Takes Down Trinity Christian; Qualifies for Nationals

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:30:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Sophomore middle hitter Marie Hackert (Evansville, Ind./Reitz Memorial) posted eight kills and team-best four total blocks (one solo) as the No. 2 seeded Saint Xavier University volleyball team defeated No. 3 seed Trinity Christian College (Ill.) Thursday night in the semifinals of the 2012 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Volleyball Tournament at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The Cougars took the match in three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 27-25. SXU was motivated for this match-up since the Trolls defeated the Cougars at the Shannon Center in last year's tournament semifinals ending their season at 30-5 overall and dashing any chance at a national tournament bid. With tonight's victory and the win by No. 1 seed University of St. Francis (Ill.) against No. 4 seed Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) earlier this evening, Saint Xavier is guaranteed a national bid regardless of the outcome of Saturday's tourney championship.

[Volleyball] SXU Volleyball Downs Roosevelt in CCAC Quarterfinals Thriller

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:30:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Powered by an impressive performance off the bench by sophomore defensive specialist Dominique Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./UIC/Mother McAuley), the No. 2 seeded Saint Xavier volleyball team rallied for a thrilling win over No. 7 seed Roosevelt University in quarterfinals action of the 2012 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Volleyball Tournament Tuesday night at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The match went all five sets with the Lakers taking the first one, 25-22, and the host Cougars forced to rally late in the second set for a 26-24 win. The third set went to RU, 25-23, but SXU finished strong taking the final two sets, 25-18 and 15-6. Aramburu led the Cougars with four service aces and 31 digs on the night. She also served five straight points late in the fourth set to help Saint Xavier pull away for good.

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Volleyball Wraps Up Regular Season With Win Over IIT

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:00:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Senior setter Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill./Radford University/Mother McAuley) finished with 32 assists, 12 digs and two service aces to help lead Saint Xavier University to a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) victory over Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) to complete its regular season volleyball slate Thursday night at the Keating Sports Center in Chicago. It took the Cougars (29-11 overall) just three sets to claim the match by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-15. SXU finishes in a tie for first place with University of St. Francis (Ill.) with 18-1 marks in the final CCAC standings. USF claims the first automatic bid for the NAIA Volleyball National Championships awarded to the conference's regular season champion by winning the head-to-head match-up with Saint Xavier earlier this season. The Cougars look to garner the other automatic berth by winning next week's CCAC Tournament.

[Volleyball] Balanced Attack Leads Saint Xavier Volleyball to Victory Over Judson

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:15:00 -0600

Elgin, Ill. – Led by a very balanced effort from all five of its seniors, the Saint Xavier University volleyball team claimed another Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) victory defeating Judson University (Ill.) at Lindner Fitness Center Tuesday night in Elgin, Ill. The Cougars won the match in three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-16 to garner their fifth straight win and improve to 17-1 in the conference standings. With the 17-1 mark in the CCAC, SXU sits in a tie for first place with rival University of St. Francis (Ill.) with just one match to play in the 2012 regular season. Saint Xavier overall mark now stands at 28-11.

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Volleyball Sweeps Through CCAC Crossover Tourney

Rob Huizenga — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:55:00 -0600

South Bend, Ind. – Behind a combined 27 kills by senior outside hitter Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community), the Saint Xavier University volleyball team swept through the field at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Crossover Tournament hosted by Indiana University-South Bend (IUSB) in South Bend, Ind. The Cougars (27-11 overall/16-1 CCAC) defeated Purdue University-North Central (Ind.) in Friday's opening match by scores of 25-15, 25-9 and 25-22 and then took down Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) in three as well 25-20, 25-10 and 25-23 later that evening. In Saturday's lone match against host IUSB, it was more of the same as SXU took the Titans by scores of 25-15, 25-12 and 25-15.

[Volleyball] Seniors Shine on �Senior Night' as SXU Tops Roosevelt in Three Sets

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:20:00 -0600

Senior outside hitter Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) led the Saint Xavier volleyball team to a win over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) rival Roosevelt University in three sets on Tuesday night. The scores of the sets were 25-20, 25-13 and 25-10. The Cougars celebrated ‘Senior Night' and honored the senior players as well as their parents prior to the match. Knudsen finished the night with 15 kills, eight digs and an attack percentage of .478. Fellow senior outside hitter Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) had eight kills to go along with five digs.

[Volleyball] Mullaney Leads Saint Xavier Volleyball at Grand View Tournament

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:10:00 -0600

Des Moines, Iowa – Senior outside hitter Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) racked up 44 combined kills over four matches, but the Saint Xavier University volleyball team had trouble getting wins going 1-3 on the weekend at the Grand View University Volleyball Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. The Cougars (23-11 overall) dropped both its Friday matches falling to Davenport University (Mich.) in three sets (21-25, 24-26 and 13-25) in the opening match and then dropping another three-set match (22-25, 20-25 and 19-25) to No. 13 Grand View University (Iowa) later that evening. SXU came back on Saturday with a win over Evangel University (Mo.) in four sets (25-17, 27-25, 23-25 and 25-15), but went down in the finale against No. 20 Viterbo University (Wis.) in three sets (17-25, 21-25 and 16-25).

[Volleyball] Saint Xavier Volleyball Racks Up the Blocks in Win Over Robert Morris

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:45:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Finishing the match with 18 total blocks (four solos), the Saint Xavier University volleyball team used its strong play around the net to pick up another Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) victory Tuesday evening defeating Robert Morris University (Ill.) at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The Cougars secured the match in three sets winning by scores of 26-24, 26-24 and 25-12. Senior outside hitter Kelly Knudsen (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) had a huge match recording 13 kills and five total blocks (one solo). SXU improves to 22-8 on the year with the victory and continues to sit atop the North Division of the CCAC with a conference mark of 12-1.