SLU’s Carlie Rodgers (center) celebrates with teammates, following the Billikens win at Kansas City on Saturday. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)

NCAA Volleyball12345
Saint Louis (7-5)2525221115
Kansas City (9-3)2322252513

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, MO — After dropping the first two matches of their final non-conference tournament, the Saint Louis University women’s volleyball team closed out the weekend with a thrilling five-set win over tournament host Kansas City, Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Center.

The Billikens, who had won three of their previous four matches before losing to Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri on Friday, earned the win over the Roos by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 11-25, 15-13.

Middle blocker Jillian Mattingly and outside hitter Delaney Rice led the way for Saint Louis. Mattingly had a match and season-high 19 kills, while Rice added 17 kills of her own.

Carlie Rodgers, SLU’s defensive specialist/libero, spear headed the team’s defensive efforts with 24 digs — a performance which landed her on the All-Tournament team. Teammates Emily Henken and Kayla Richardson also contributed with three blocks each.

That match itself proved to be a back-and-forth affair, as Saint Louis came out blazing in the first two sets and never trailed as it won both against the home town Roos. But then Kansas City took over in the third and fourth sets, to force a fifth and deciding set.

Both clubs traded kills and service errors, while the lead changed hands six different times. But in the end, it was SLU that was able to power through and win the match by winning the final three points on a kill by Mattingly, a hitting error by Kansas City, and a game-clinching kill by Richardson.

The victory lifted Saint Louis’ overall record to 7-5, while Kansas City fell to 9-3.

The Billikens will finally get to play their first home match of the season when the club returns home for a pair of matches at Chaifetz Pavilion next Friday and Saturday.

SLU will be hosting VCU in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both clubs, with Friday’s match set for 6:30 p.m., and Saturday’s contest slated for 2 p.m.

Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

2023 Saint Louis University Billikens Women’s Volleyball Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 22 (Friday)6:00 PMHomeVCUChaifetz Pavilion
September 23 (Saturday)2:00 PMHomeVCUChaifetz Pavilion
September 29 (Friday)6:00 PMAwayGeorge MasonFairfax, Va.
September 30 (Saturday)2:00 PMAwayGeorge MasonFairfax, Va.
October 3 (Tuesday)6:00 PMHomeLoyola ChicagoChaifetz Pavilion
October 6 (Friday)6:00 PMAwayDuquesnePittsburgh, Pa.
October 7 (Saturday)2:00 PMAwayDuquesnePittsburgh, Pa.
October 13 (Friday)6:00 PMHomeFordhamChaifetz Pavilion
October 14 (Saturday)2:00 PMHomeFordhamChaifetz Pavilion
October 20 (Friday)7:00 PMAwayDaytonDayton, Ohio
October 21 (Saturday)2:00 PMAwayDaytonDayton, Ohio
October 24 (Tuesday)6:00 PMAwayLoyola ChicagoChicago, Ill.
October 28 (Saturday)2:00 PMHomeRhode IslandChaifetz Pavilion
October 29 (Sunday)2:00 PMHomeRhode IslandChaifetz Pavilion
November 3 (Friday)7:00 PMAwayDavidsonDavidson, N.C.
November 4 (Saturday)4:00 PMAwayDavidsonDavidson, N.C.
November 10 (Friday)6:00 PMHomeGeorge WashingtonChaifetz Pavilion
November 11 (Saturday)2:00 PMHomeGeorge WashingtonChaifetz Pavilion