Friday night will be a key match for the Saint Louis University volleyball team. However, it will be somewhat bittersweet for lone senior Jessica Moss, as it will be her final home appearance as a Billiken.
“Jess has been a major contributor for the last four years,” said coach Marilyn Nolen. “She started three of her four years.
“(Moss) is a primary passer and plays all around the court. She’s a very defensive player.”
As a freshman, Moss broke into the starting line up and ended the season second on the team with 315 digs, averaging 2.46 digs per game.
Moss had her career-high game against Louisville in the conference tournament, with 22 digs, and she continued to be a great defensive asset for the Billikens, with 18 digs in the Billikens’ C-USA first round win against Charlotte.
Moss’ sophomore season was offset by injuries from a car accident and appeared in just 23 matches. In those 23 matches, however, Moss’ passing skills and defensive skills improved. Moss still had a season-high 15 digs against Cincinnati in the C-USA tournament.
In her junior year, Moss recaptured the form of her freshman season, leading the Billikens with 438 digs. Moss’ offensive abilities shone as well. With 287 kills, Moss finished fourth on the team.
Moss chalked up nine double-doubles that season and reached a new career-high of 23 digs against Louisiana Tech. Later, Moss tied her 23-kill record against Eastern Illinois.
As a junior, Moss’ season was highlighted by being named All-Tournament at the Coca-Cola Billiken Invitational.
This season, despite being plagued by a foot injury, Moss has been a huge factor for the Billikens in every area. She has notched 258 kills, thus far. In addition, Moss has added 24 service aces. In both kills and aces, Moss is second only to Colleen Hunter.
Moss currently leads the team in passing and is the leader in digs with a total of 305 digs, averaging 3.112 digs per game.
Moss recently moved past Ksenya Korshunova into 10th place on the all-time kill list at SLU. To date, Moss has compiled 777 kills in her career.
Moss had one of the strongest games of her career last week against UAB. Moss led the Bills with 12 digs, and also contributed five kills.
This year, Moss was again named All-Tournament at the Billiken Invitational.
Moss is expected to be a key factor for the Bills Friday night in her final home appearance, as well as in the remaining matches in her final conference run.
