The Baumann-Eberhardt Athletic Center has never looked more appealing to the Saint Louis University volleyball team than it does right now.
After winning matches against Notre Dame and DePaul, the Billikens lost to Marquette Saturday night, and again in straight sets to Conference USA rival South Florida Tuesday night. This weekend, the Bills hope to rebound at home, where they have not lost a match.
The Billikens began the weekend on a high note, downing DePaul 3-1 in Chicago Friday night. Game scores were 30-27, 30-27, 20-30, 30-28.
The Bills grabbed the lead early in the first game, and managed to over-power the Blue Demons throughout the game, despite a late rally by DePaul. The Billikens hit .293, while DePaul was held to just .178 in game one. In game two, the Billiken defense held the Blue Demons to a match-low .094 hitting percentage.
DePaul turned the tables on the Billikens in game three, hitting .310, and allowing the Bills to hit a mere .048. SLU managed just 11 kills with nine errors on 42 swings.
The Bills would not let DePaul’s offensive run spill over into the fourth game. The lead was tossed back and forth throughout the game, but the Bills closed the match after breaking away from a 28-28 tie late in the game.
“We played very well in the first two games. DePaul played well in game three and we did not pass as well as we had in the first two games,” head coach Marilyn Nolen said earlier in a press release.
Colleen Hunter just missed her second triple-double of the week, registering 29 kills, 21 digs, and nine blocks. Front row specialist Ember Knobeloch added 14 kills on a career high 72 attempts. Shannan Swiney chipped in 51 assists, along with nine digs and four blocks. Missy Werges came up big with four service aces during the match.
The Billiken defense was solid, with Brooke Minniear, Missy Werges and Dani Apted contributed 12, 11, and 10 digs, respectively.
Saturday night, the Billikens hoped to continue their winning streak in Milwaukee against Marquette, but fell 3-1 to the Golden Eagles.
The Bills started the match with the same intensity they had the night before in Chicago, winning the first game 30-19. The Bills hit down 16 kills for a hitting percentage of .333, while Marquette could only muster a .053 effort.
But the Bills luck ended after game one. In game two, Marquette blazed ahead to win the game 30-18.
Game three provided the Bills an opportunity to come back and regain the lead. The Bills and Golden Eagles each drilled 16 kills, but Marquette took advantage of several key SLU errors to close the game 30-26.
Marquette closed the win after an intense game four. The Bills hit just one ball less than the Golden Eagles, managing 20 kills and out-hit MU with a .265 hitting percentage, but it was Marquette that closed the match after two straight points, winning 33-31.
Hunter and Knobeloch both contributed over 20 kills apiece, with 25 and 21, respectively. Swiney dished up 53 assists as well as 14 digs, and Minniear added 13 digs.
“Ember was outstanding with 21 kills, and Colleen had another strong match for us. We played well in game one, but game two was the exact opposite. We had chances in games three and four but just could not make the critical play,” Nolen said earlier this week.
After the disappointing loss to Marquette Saturday night, the Bills headed to South Florida for another C-USA showdown with the Bulls. The Bills lost in three games straight, with game scores 30-15, 30-27, and 30-23.
South Florida jumped ahead early in the first game, hitting a match-high .407, while the Bills hit .070.
In game two, the Billikens came alive and kept the score close throughout the game, hitting 12 kills on 39 attempts. But South Florida hung on and took the game, despite committing 11 errors.
The Bulls closed the match in game three, taking advantage of SLU’s .050 hitting percentage. USF had 17 kills in the third game, while hitting .263.
After the three straight games on the road, the Bills will return home where they remain undefeated this weekend for Conference matches with UAB and South Florida.
