The volleyball team was able to send their seniors out on a high note. Although the team lost a tough five-set match against Temple University Friday, Nov. 3, the team quickly rebounded Saturday to sweep the La Salle Explorers 3-0.
These two games were the last home games for the Billikens and the final games at Chaifetz Arena for seniors Aleksandra Niemiec, Andrea Bolt, Cassie Clarke, Carly Marcum and Carly Schumacher.
The match against Temple was a hard and heartbreaking fight.
The Bills won an epic first set 30-28. Both teams played equally well, with the Billikens just edging out the Temple Owls.
The Bills dropped the next set 25-27, leading to a 1-1 tie heading into the third set.
The Billikens dominated the third set 25-15. Anna Church highlighted the set, leading the Bills in a 7-0 run, giving them a 13-7 lead in the set. However, the Owls took the next set from the Bills, 25-21, leading to a final decisive set.
The Owls started strong with a 5-1 run. Despite the Bills best efforts to combat this, they fell short, dropping the final set to Temple, 13-15, and losing the match.
Clarke had a double-double in the match with 58 assists and 25 digs. Megan Gilbert starred with 14 kills.
Tides changed for the Bills going into Saturday. Prior to the match against the La Salle Explorers, SLU honored the seniors, who ended their careers at Chaifetz Arena with a victory in their last game.
The Bills swept the Explorers in straight sets 25-18, 25-23 and 25-18.
Church led the way for the Bills with 12 kills and 11 digs.
It was the third double-double of her career. Grace Bonoma had 17 digs for the Bills during the match.
The Bills took their overall record as 10-18 (4-9 Atlantic 10).
The Bills travel to Indianapolis to take on Butler University on Saturday, Nov. 10. The match starts at 4:00 p.m., their last match before the A-10 tournament on Nov. 16-18.
