WATERTOWN, Wis. -- On the opening night of the season, the Sabercats produced a microcosm of the 2018 season: they improved significantly throughout the match.

After two lopsided set wins, the St. Xavier University Cougars took home a 3-0 sweep after a thrilling final set in the MBU Gymnasium.

• Result: Maranatha 0-3 SXU (12-25, 11-25, 26-28)
• Venue: MBU Gymnasium
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 224
• Records: MBU (0-1), SXU (1-0)

The visitors showed their power early on, posting six early kills and multiple aces that left the Sabercats' defense scrambling.

MBU tried to answer with a few kills from Rory Massey and Taylor DaFoe, but the Sabercats were outmatched in the first set - St. Xavier reeled in a 25-12 win to take the lead.

The second set saw the Cougars resume their game plan - quick hitting and some big swings at the net kept the Cougars out of striking distance as the second set progressed, and SXU closed the second frame out to the tune of 25-11.

The Cougars looked to be coasting to an easy win, but the Sabercats had other ideas, pulling out to a lead and staying ahead in the third. Late kills from Isaac McKee, Dafoe, and Joel Smith helped the Sabercats maintain momentum and the lead, but the Cougars came back late to force the set into a tie. The Cougars limited Derek Wallis to two kills on the night, and the visitors' strength at the net eventually made the difference, as they took home a 28-26 win in an exciting final frame.

• Massey: 3 kills to lead MBU in the category
• DaFoe: 2 kills and 6 assists
• St. X: Posted 44 kills and a .485 attack percentage
• St. X: Added 13 aces on the night
• Series: This was the first edition of the series

• SXU competes in the NAIA
• The Cougars' first season as a varsity program was 2009
• SXU finished last year with an 8-10 record, facing NAIA nationally-ranked opponents six different times
• This was SXU's season-opener as well

The Sabercats will compete at the NCCAA Invitational next weekend in Palos Heights, Illinois. MBU has received the #7 seed and will open play against #2 Campbellsville. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.