Though their winning streak has ended, Saint Louis Volleyball continues to enjoy a historic season. The Billikens stand at 10-4 for the year after winning two out of three games at the Active Ankle Challenge in West Lafayette, Ind., including an impressive win over No. 11 Purdue. Freshman outside hitter Nenye Okoro has been named the Atlantic-10 Conference’s Rookie of the Week, for the second time this season. And to top it off, SLU has received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for the first time this season.
.In the opening match of last weekend’s tournament, the Billikens scored a major upset over tournament host Purdue. At the time of the match, Purdue was ranked 11th in the country, with an overall season record of 8-1 (they have since dropped to No. 15). Saint Louis took the first set, 25-20. The two schools swapped wins until the fifth, when the Billikens rallied from a 4-10 deficit to win the set, 15-13.
“It was a good, solid win against a good opponent,” head coach Kent Miller said. “Our team stayed composed under pressure and made some big plays to come out on top. I am really proud of how our team fights hard and plays together.”
It was a historic win for the Billikens, the first time since 2009 that SLU has taken down a ranked opponent. In addition, the victory marked the eighth consecutive win this season, which tied the Billikens’ second-longest winning streak since 2008.
The triumph was short-lived, however, as SLU fell to Notre Dame later that same night. The Irish took the opening set, 21-25. Although the Billikens bounced back with a 25-21 in the second, they fell short in the next two sets, losing 24-26 and 21-25.
The Billikens redeemed themselves Saturday, with a decisive 3-0 sweep of Morehead State: 25-15, 25-16, and 25-9. St. Louis earned a .349 attack percentage, holding their opponents to just .085. This was SLU’s fifth sweep of the season, bringing their overall record to 10-4. SLU has not earned 10 wins before October. since 2008.
Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Rygelski was named to the All-Tournament team for her performance. In three matches, she recorded 47 kills, 22 digs, and six aces. She recorded 12 kills in the game against Morehead.
Freshman outside hitter Nenye Okoro, A-10 Rookie of the Week, notched 34 kills, 32 digs, and 10 blocks for the Billikens over the course of the tournament. She was a particularly potent force against Purdue, where she tallied 16 kills, 12 digs, and five blocks. This is is her second accolade from the A-10 conference this season, and the fourth for the team as a whole.
The team’s performance has garnered a nod from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Every week the AVCA releases a ranking of the top 25 volleyball teams in the nation. Saint Louis received four votes, their first appearance in the poll this season. The last time SLU was ranked was 2009, when they were No. 22.
Conference matches start this Friday, Sept. 26, as SLU takes on La Salle in Philadelphia, Pa. The Billikens will bring the competition home the following weekend, taking on VCU on Friday Oct. 3 and Davidson on Sunday, Oct. 5
