Head coach Anne Kordes could not think of a better way to begin the volleyball team’s “Chaifetz era.”
In what is being hailed as the biggest win in the program’s history, Saint Louis University had arguably the biggest upset in 2008 Division I volleyball Saturday, Sept. 6, when it defeated No. 3 Stanford at home.
The game, which was the first intercollegiate event held at Chaifetz Arena, was played in front of a record crowd of more than 2,100 fans.
“I don’t think you could have described a more perfect night, perfect event, for this to happen-with the crowd, and Stanford, and the arena, all the hometown people coming out to support; it was just perfect,” Kordes said. “To be able to accomplish this is huge.”
Kordes admits, though, that the big win increases the pressure put on the team.
“It puts a big bull’s-eye on our back,” Kordes said. “In our conference, we already had one, but not to this magnitude. We have three more games against ranked teams before conference . we get to find out if we’re a team that can maintain a high level of play.”
SLU Athletic Director Chris May said the tournament was “a special way to open it up with such a wonderful win.”
“It just reinforces the idea that there are some really great things happeneing with Billiken athletics, and the volleyball win is just another example that we’re striving for excellence here,” May said. “I think it’s a tribute to the young women and coaches that have worked so hard this season.”
As a result of its upset against Stanford, SLU received 134 votes in this week’s coaches poll after earning seven votes last week.
SLU trailed for most of the first set, down by as much as six but took the lead at 22-21 on a Cynthia Barboza kill, before coming from behind to take the set.
The teams were even at points 22 to 25, before SLU forced a Stanford hitting error and a service ace from junior Sammi McCloud to escape with the win.
Both teams showed more defenses and were more aggressive with their offense in a back-and-forth second set. Stanford stayed composed and took the lead on three consecutive hitting errors by SLU. The Cardinals never looked back, winning the set 20-25.
The team element is the reason the Billikens were able to out match their opponent, McCloud said.
“We’ve been talking about [the team] since the beginning of pre-season, how special this group is, how much chemistry we have. And it definitely showed on the court,” McCloud said. “We didn’t just want this for ourselves; we wanted it for everyone out there.”
The Bills and Cardinals traded the lead early in the third set; SLU held the lead to the 15-16 serve. The Bills rallied to go ahead on 4 consecutive points by Whitney Roth. Stanford cut it to one at 23-22 following a kill and an ace from Erin Waller and a SLU hitting error. However, Sally Warning and McCloud notched back-to-back kills to put SLU up 2-1.
In the final set, Stanford scored five straight points early to run out to a 9-3 lead, but the Billikens scored the next five points to cut the margin to one at 9-8. After being tied at 18, SLU would fall behind again but rally late to go up 23-21. Warning ended the suspense with a kill and SLU fans in Chaifetz celebrated and rushed the court.
Roth attributed the win to the team’s composure down the stretch.
“We stayed composed, stayed steady,” Roth said. “This is the most steady this team has stayed that I can remember. Everyone fought for every point. It all came together tonight, everything we’ve worked for.”
Three SLU players recorded double-doubles in the match. McCloud, who was named to the All-Tournament team along with Roth, led the Billikens with a match-high 19 kills and completed a double-double with 14 digs. Barboza led the Cardinal with 12 kills and 13 digs.
The Billikens had 68 kills while Stanford managed 56, and SLU out-hit the Cardinal .273 to .252.
