Saint Louis University women’s volleyball stumbled to a 3-1 defeat against Atlantic-10-Conference-leader Dayton at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8. The loss drops SLU to a 7-5 conference record and an 18-9 overall record, and bumps SLU down to 6th place in the A-10, while Dayton remains at the top of the conference with an 11-1 A-10 record. Despite the loss, several Billikens delivered strong performances during the match. In addition, many SLU student-athletes were present in the crowd, as this game represented this season’s “Back to the Bills” event for SLU volleyball, in which SLU student-athletes are encouraged to attend each other’s athletic events.
SLU defeated the Flyers in a close first set, 25-23. The Billikens led in the first set with freshman middle blocker Lauren Leverenz, who came off an outstanding performance in the previous weekend’s games against Davidson and VCU, and junior middle blocker Megan Gilbert. Both Leverenz and Gilbert notched four kills each in the set.
The second set went Dayton’s way, as the Flyers defeated the Billikens 25-21 in a back-and-forth affair. SLU lost the set despite a strong performance from freshman outside hitter Nenye Okoro, who tallied five kills and five digs, and a tough defensive performance from Gilbert, who posted 7 digs.
The Billikens could not respond after the break and again lost, as Dayton took the third set 25-17. Junior setter Meredith Boe put in some strong serves for the Billikens, scoring two service aces, and Leverenz posted three kills. The Flyers posted a strong hitting percentage of .609 in the set.
The fourth and final set went to Dayton as SLU lost 25-18, despite Okoro scoring four kills and sophomore outside hitter Danielle Rygelski putting in six digs and three kills without an error.
In the match, Okoro played her way to her 11th double-double of the season, matching Rygelski’s freshman total last year, with a team-leading 13 kills and 11 digs.
Rygelski also posted a double-double, her eighth of the season, with ten kills and 11 digs. Meanwhile, Megan Gilbert tallied her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and 15 digs.
Despite the tough loss, the Billikens look to rebound next weekend, as they host defending A-10 champions Duquesne, who is 9-3 in the A-10 this season, on Friday, Nov. 14.
The Billikens also host La Salle on Sunday, Nov. 16, who has a conference record of 3-9 this season and subsequently out of the running for the A-10 Championship. SLU is guaranteed this season to finish in sixth place or higher in the Conference based on their A-10 record. This guarantees a spot in the A-10 2014 Volleyball Championship, the end-of-year conference tournament.
SLU, however, will look to win its remaining games in an attempt to earn a higher seed in the tournament. If current standings hold, which is unlikely considering the close records of the top six conference teams, SLU will play Duquesne in the quarterfinals.
The A-10 Championship begin on Friday, Nov. 21, and last until the final match on Sunday, Nov. 23. This year, the tournament will be hosted at the Frericks Center at the University of Dayton.
Dayton has a strong history in the tournament, having won eight of the past twelve tournaments. SLU, however, has won two of the tournaments; with their most recent win in 2008.
