It was a wild weekend for the St. Xavier athletic program regarding the NAIA nationals.
SXU’s men’s volleyball team finished runner-up in the nation for the second year in a row.
The Cougars softball team qualified for nationals.
And the baseball team is waiting to hear if it earned a spot in the national tournament.
The volleyball team (31-4) avenged early-season losses to Mount Mercy and defending national champion The Master’s to reach the title match, but dropped a 26-28, 30-28, 25-22, 25-21 decision to Park on May 2 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Graduate student Matt Pennala had 21 kills and 13 digs in the title battle for the Cougars. Caydann Cox added 10 kills, four blocks, four digs and two aces. Setter Cameron Daniels had 43 assists and four aces.
Park finished 35-0. and it was only the third time this season the Missouri school dropped a first set.
Cox, a Montana native, was named to the all-tournament team.
The softball team, ranked 21st in the nation, won the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament for the sixth year in a row. The Cougars (41-12) beat St. Francis 8-0 on May 1 in Crown Point, Indiana, to earn a berth in the NAIA Tournament.
Evergreen Park grad Lily Strand (20-7) gave up four hits and Stagg graduate Morgan Natanek drove in four runs.
The Cougars await Opening Round information as the national pairings were scheduled to be announced on May 6. The tournament is scheduled to open on May 11.
The Cougars baseball team (35-19) took second in the CCAC Tournament, dropping a 6-4 decision to St. Ambrose in the championship game on May 2 at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. Brother Rice grad and Oak Lawn native Beau Polickey drove in two runs in the victory.
The national tournament opens on May 11.
Hounds move to 5-0
The Chicago Hounds ran the table in the first half of the Major League Rugby season after beating Old Glory DC 49-31 on May 3 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Theo Fourie had the first two tries of the game for the Hounds (5-0) to set the tone.
The Hounds open the second half of the season hosting Anthem Rugby Carolina at 5:30 p.m. May 10 at SeatGeek Stadium.
Sports bits
Lyons pitcher Jack Slightom threw a five-inning no-hitter, striking out eight, in a 10-0 victory over York on April 28.
- Former Illinois State standout Kenyatta Shelton was named the new girls basketball coach at De La Salle.
- The Windy City Thunderbolts open their Frontier League season at 6:35 p.m. May 7 against Washington at Ozinga Field in Crestwood.