CHICAGO – University of St. Francis ran into a hot Saint Xavier University team and dropped a three-set match to the Cougars in the Shannon Center Thursday evening.

Saint Xavier (15-2, 5-1), who narrowly missed the NAIA Top 25 in the coaches' rankings this past week, clicked on all cylinders in administering USF (11-7, 4-2) its most one-sided loss of the season.  USF managed no more than 17 points in any of the three games, the first time this season that it has not scored at least 18 points in any one set of a match.

USF struggled offensively, getting no players in double figures in kills. Senior opposite Sarah Ahline (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) led the Saints with eight kills and a .222 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Jazzmyne Robbins (La Salle-Peru H.S./Peru, IL) was next with five kills but that represented a season-low matching number for USF's leading attacker.

Sophomore middle hitter Kate McIlvanie (Lena-Winslow H.S./Eleroy, IL) led the defensive effort with three blocks. Junior libero Dana Wettergren (Oak Forest H.S./Oak Forest, IL) topped the team with 15 digs.

The busy week continues for St. Francis as the Saints board the bus Friday morning to head to St. Charles, Mo., for four matches in the Lindenwood University Invitational. The Saints play Union University (TN) and McKendree University on Friday evening and then face Evangel University (MO) and host Lindenwood on Saturday. The meeting with Evangel will be a rematch of a contest played earlier this month at the Saint Xavier/Trinity Christian Crossover Tournament when Evangel defeated the Saints in three straight sets. USF has not faced the other three schools yet this year.