(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Billiken volleyball rallied after dropping the first set to defeat defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion Duquesne 3-2 (23-25, 25-11, 25-13, 22-25, 15-5). Saint Louis rises to 12-4 overall and 2-0 in A-10 action.
Danielle Rygelski and Nenye Okoro led the Billikens with 21 kills each. Okoro also was an efficient hitter, notching a .450 attack percentage against the Dukes. Meredith Boe had 54 assists in the match, her fifth 50-plus assist match of the season. Nicole Sniffen and Megan Gilbert each had a match-high six blocks. Anna Church patrolled the back row with 21 digs.
In the opening set, Gilbert, Okoro and Rygelski each had four kills, but Duquesne won the first 25-23.
Saint Louis opened the second set on a five-point run and never looked back, capturing set two 25-11. Rygelski had five kills in the set. Sniffen was a force at the net, recording four blocks in the set. The Billikens hit .522 while holding Duquesne to a .000 attack percentage in the frame.
After the break, both teams traded points to a 10-10 tie. SLU then went on a seven-point run. The Billikens ended the third set on a 15-3 run to win 25-13. Gilbert led the Billikens with six kills, followed closely by Okoro with five. Saint Louis continued to hit efficiently with a .567 attack percentage.
Duquesne came back in the forth set with a 22-25 win.
In the deciding fifth set, the Billikens hit .412 while holding the Dukes to a -.050 attack percentage. Saint Louis won the final set 15-5. Rygelski and Okoro had three kills apiece.
Next up for SLU is a pair of conference matches against VCU on Oct. 3 and conference newcomer Davidson Oct. 5 at Chaifetz Pavilion.
