After the most intense preseason training in the volleyball team’s recent history, the Billikens saw their hard work come to life in the Best Western Miami Invitational.
For just the seventh time in the program’s history, the team started the season 3-0 in its first weekend of play.
The Bills held off the host Miami-Ohio 3-1 in the season opener and again the following day, 3-0. SLU, which is now 5-0 in season openers under head coach Anne Kordes, wrapped up the tournament with a 3-0 win over Stephen F. Austin.
The only difference between the games this past weekend and the team’s practices, according to senior Sammi McCloud, is that there is an opponent on the other side of the net.
“We have the same mentality in practices and games,” McCloud said. “The level of intensity didn’t need to change; we just have to focus on our opponents and adapting to their strengths.”
Starting off 3-0 came at the perfect time for the Bills. The team head’s into its toughest weekend of competition all year this weekend at home in Chaifetz arena.
On tap for the team are two teams ranked in the top 25 nationally and a strong adversary in William and Mary.
“It’s very rare that we’ll see two ranked teams all season, let alone in one tournament, so this weekend will be big for us,” head coach Anne Kordes said. “We have to be relaxed; we can’t be distracted by the fact that teams are nationally ranked.”
McCloud, who was named tournament MVP last weekend, said the main objective is to focus on the University of Illinois on Friday, Sept. 5.
No. 19 Illinois (3-0) jumped into the top 25 this week after knocking off North Carolina, No. 23 New Mexico State and No. 11 Oregon at the State Farm Illini Classic last weekend.
“We have to have a no-fear type of attitude,” McCloud said about the upcoming tournament. “We know we can compete at their level; we just have to go out and do it.”
The Billiken Volleyball Invitational, which will christen the Chaifetz Arena as the first major Saint Louis University sporting event, will be a two-day event featuring six matches.
One of SLU’s recruits this year was freshman Ashley Gaillot, a defensive specialist who came from a small school in Denver. She said the tournament will be SLU’s chance to prove its competitiveness.
“We want to give other [top] teams respect, but not show fear,” Gaillot said.
The team is already gaining national exposure. After returning five starters and handily defeating top teams last weekend, the team received seven votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history.
This puts the team within the top 35 teams in the country. With wins against Stanford and Illinois, the team stands to enter the top 25, a feat that has not yet been accomplished in the program’s history.
“These games will give us more of an idea where we stand nationally,” McCloud said. “Our team chemistry gives us an edge over a number of teams, and nothing can compete with a team that works well together.”
