Members of the SLU Billikens celebrate a victory at the Redbird Classic. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)

Match 1 – Sept. 8,123F
Saint Louis252525(3)
Miami (OH)192112(0)
Match 2 – Sept. 8,1234F
Saint Louis25232525(3)
Illinois State22252213(1)
Match 3 – Sept. 91234F
Saint Louis27232218(1)
New Mexico State25252525(3)

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

NORMAL, IL — The Saint Louis University women’s volleyball team continued its superb start to the 2023 season by, for the third time this season, playing in a three-match weekend event and coming out of it having won two of the three matches.

They did it at the Crimson Tide Invitational to begin the season (at Alabama). They did it last weekend at the Chippewa Invitational (at Central Michigan). And this weekend, they did it again at the Redbird Classic (at Illinois State) with wins over Miami-Ohio, Illinois State and a loss to New Mexico State.

For the season, the Billikens are now 6-3 and will play in one more out-of-town, weekend event. It will be next weekend at the KC Roos Classic at the University of Kansas City. Saint Louis will play Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri on Friday, then finish with a match against Kansas City on Saturday.

This past weekend, things began really well for the Billikens, who won both matches on Friday.

Against the RedHawks to begin the day, SLU (6-2) came out firing on all cylinders. Emily Henken led the way with 11 kills while Trinity Luckett matched her career high of 10 and CeCe Fitz eclipsed her career-high with nine kills.

SLU compiled 10 blocks, one shy of the team’s season best of 11 accomplished in its opening match against Mercer, 41 assists and 34 digs. Carlie Rodgers helped lead the Billikens’ defensive efforts with 10 digs of her own.

As a team, the Billikens hit .319 while holding their opponent to .111.

SLU’s second match of the day looked to be a different story. After falling to the host teams in both of the Billikens opening tournaments, Illinois State came out strong. The first set saw four ties and two lead changes, and SLU saw itself down 18-9 before coming from behind to take set one, 25-22.

After dropping the second set, 25-23, to the Redbirds on their home court, SLU rallied, winning the third set with 12 kills on .184 hitting.

With the momentum in tow, the Billikens leapt out to a 5-0 lead to begin the fourth set, winning it handily, 25-13.

Against the Redbirds, seniors Henken and Delaney Rice tallied 14 kills apiece, while Jillian Mattingly added 12 of her own. Fitz matched her career high with eight total blocks in the win as Mattingly (5) and Luckett (3) helped the Billikens to their most in a match so far this season (12).

On Saturday, Saint Louis came out blazing and won the first set 27-25. But after that, New Mexico State took over and won the final three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-18.

Henken finished with 18 kills and Rice added 13 kills of her own, while Rodgers led the Billikens defensive effort with a team-high 16 digs. The performances earned Henken and Rodgers spots on the Redbird Classic All-Tournament Team.

SLU’s first home matches of the season will come in two weeks, when the Billikens will begin Atlantic 10 Conference play with a pair of matches against VCU at the Chaifetz Pavilion on September 22 and 23.

2023 Saint Louis University Billikens Women’s Volleyball Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 15 (Friday)10:00 AMNeutralAustin PeayKansas City, Mo.
September 15 (Friday)4:00 PMNeutralSEMOKansas City, Mo.
September 16 (Saturday)2:00 PMNeutralKansas CityKansas City, Mo.
September 22 (Friday)6:00 PMHomeVCUChaifetz Pavilion
September 23 (Saturday)2:00 PMHomeVCUChaifetz Pavilion
September 29 (Friday)6:00 PMAwayGMUFairfax, Va.
September 30 (Saturday)2:00 PMAwayGMUFairfax, 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