Last season the Saint Louis University women’s volleyball team had trouble beating the top teams in Conference USA. The Bills were a combined 0-4 against Louisville and Cincinnati.
In 1999 the Bills troubles have continued as SLU has gone a combined 1-3. In their latest efforts to topple Cincy and Louisville, the Billikens faltered.
With a chance to tie for first place in the C-USA American Division, the Bills absorbed two tough losses from Louisville and Cincinnati. Their overall record stands at 21-6, 8-5 in conference.
SLU was looking forward to meeting up with a Louisville team that has been on a tear of late.
The Bills beat the Cardinals in their first meeting of the year here at Bauman- Eberhardt.
Louisville has since succeeded in creating a dangerous team chemistry. While Louisville’s 13-9 overall record makes them look unimpressive, their 10-2 conference record has them fighting for the C-USA championship.
The Bills fought hard and took the first set in close fashion, 15-13. Louisville bounced back and took the next game with no problem, 15-6. SLU returned the favor in the next game, 15-8.
Louisville took the forth game with a vengeance, 15-4. With each team winning two games, the rally set went all the way to the edge. The game was tied 13-13, but the Cardinals took the final two points to take a tough match.
Senior middle hitter Laura Risley had her worst outing of the season, with 16 kills and 11 errors in 56 attempts.
She hit a dismal . 089, with four digs. Freshman middle hitter Colleen Hunter led the team with 17 kills. She also posted seven digs while freshman outside hitter Brooke Minniear had nine kills and led the team with 14 digs.
Sophomore middle hitter Cristal Leonard contributed 16 kills and five digs. She also had three service errors. Sophomore setter Beth Martin led the team with 57 assists and three service aces.
Coach Marilyn Nolen said of Friday’s performance, “We did a really good job in the first and last games. I felt that we made mental adjustments and played tough.”
After the heartbreaking defeat the Billikens made their way into Cincinnati to try and avenge a nasty defeat suffered at home.
A win would have kept the Billikens in strong contention for a fourth place finish in C-USA and a first round bye in the post season tournament.
The Bearcats wasted no time in dispatching with the Bills in the first game, 15-2. The Bills came to life in the second but still fell short, 15-10. With their backs against the wall, SLU rattled off a 16-14 win.
Cincy and SLU played a tough, tight fourth game with the Bearcats eeking out the victory, 17-15.
Nolen said that her squad may have been emotionally drained after such a close match with Louisville.
With four players having negative hitting percentages, the Billikens did not play their best volleyball.
Risley bounced back with 20 kills and nine digs while Hunter added 17 kills and seven digs. Minniear led the team in digs with 13.
Leonard had eight kills, nine digs and four aces. Martin led the team in assists with 52 and tied Leonard with four aces.
The Bills are now looking forward to getting back to their winning ways.
A tough UNC-Charlotte team stands in their way this weekend. Nolen said of her Billikens, “There’s a lot of fight in this team. We’re fighting for a top four spot.”
The Billikens will be in for a fight. The UNC-Charlotte 49ers are one of two teams to hand Cincinnati a conference loss this year.
