“We just sent a Big Ten school packing, so I’m happy.”
Senior defensive specialist Dani Apted summed up the sentiments of the Saint Louis University volleyball team after its 3-1 victory over Indiana University Tuesday night, improving its record to 5-8.
After dropping two Conference-USA matches to Houston and TCU, the Billikens were anxious to return home, where they remain undefeated.
Friday night, the Billikens lost three games straight to the heavy-hitting C-USA rival Houston Cougars.
Colleen Hunter led the Billiken attack with 10 kills, with Ember Knobeloch close behind with 7 kills.
Saturday, the Bills traveled across Texas for the second conference showdown of the weekend with the TCU rematch. In their first meeting, the Bills defeated TCU 3-1, but this time, it was the Horned Frogs who picked up the 3-1 win.
TCU jumped ahead early in the match winning the first game 30-19, but the Billiken squad came alive in the second game, and managed to edge the Horned Frogs 30-28. In game two, the Bills managed 15 kills on 29 swings.
“We played much better after the first game,” said head coach Marilyn Nolen earlier this week. “We led both of the last two games and had chances to win, but TCU took advantage of their breaks. I was pleased with how we competed.”
However, the match closed with close third and fourth game won by TCU with identical scores of 30-26.
Hunter managed the match high 22 kills, while Knobeloch contributed eight.
Tuesday, the Billikens returned to their home gym for the rescheduled match with Indiana.
Game one began with the lead being tossed back and forth between the Bills and the Hoosiers. However, several Indiana errors and outstanding efforts from Hunter and Brooke Minniear pushed the Bills ahead to 15-10.
From then on, Indiana could only manage to pull within four points of the Billikens until the last few points of the game. Hunter closed the game for the Bills at 30-28.
In the second game, both teams struggled to hold onto the lead, but it was Indiana who managed to pull ahead 15-10. Several Indiana kills and Billiken side-outs allowed the Hoosiers to pick up the game 30-19.
The third game featured several long-fought points to stay in control of the lead. The Bills picked up the game 30-20.
Indiana jumped ahead to a 15-9 lead by the middle of the fourth game, but the Billikens rallied late in the game to pull within one point of the Hoosiers. Minniear served seven straight points to put SLU ahead 29-26, the Billiken offense rocketed the Bills ahead of Indiana.
Hunter dominated the Billiken offense with 15 kills for the night. Minniear, Kmitta and Missy Werges each chipped in seven.
