CHICAGO -- The Cougars of St. Xavier University showed why they are the 10th-ranked team in the NAIA tonight, as they defended their home floor in a straight-set sweep.

Sharp offensively and defensively, the Cougars held MBU to 24 points in the first two sets combined before winning the fourth frame by four points.

• Results: Maranatha 0-3 No. 10 St. Xavier (12-25, 12-25, 21-25)
• Venue: Shannon Center, St. Xavier University
• Location: Chicago
• Attendance: 103
• Records: Maranatha (0-17), St. Xavier (11-4)

As if to announce their intentions, the Cougars put down 18 kills in the first set alone while limiting MBU to three. That lopsided comparison would be a sign of things to come, as the Cougars were decisive and ruthless in the three-set match.

SXU supplemented their 45-kill exhibition with eight aces, and they hit at a clip of .333 for the night.

On MBU's side of the net, Joel Smith led the Blue and Gold with six kills, which amounted to half of the kills that the hard-working hosts would allow. Maranatha pressed to put up 21 points in the final set, and they led the frame at 17-16. But a late 4-1 run from SXU ultimately thwarted the Sabercats' ideas, as SXU took home the straight-set win.

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MBU Starters: 3-Massey, 4-McKee, 5-Dafoe, 6-Rossiter, 12-Wallis, 13-Wagner (L), 15-Smith // SXU Starters: 4-MacCarthy, 6-Olson (L), 11-Bergstrand, 12-Kummer, 15-Marcauskas, 18-Springer, 20-Gabor

• Wallis: 5 kills 
• SXU: 45 kills 
• SXU: two student-athletes with 10 or more kills

• SXU just received the 10th spot in the most recent NAIA Top 10 Coaches' poll
• St. Xavier has dropped just one match at home this season, losing to No. 6 St. Ambrose
• The Cougars compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

The Sabercats will stay in Chicago to compete in the Illinois Tech Tri tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.