The SLU Billikens will host a pair of weekend matches on Friday and Saturday against VCU. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

SLU Billikens vs. VCU Rams
Match No. 1Saint Louis University (7-5) vs. VCU (3-7)
Date // TimeFriday, September 22 // 6 pm
Match No. 2Saint Louis University (7-5) vs. VCU (3-7)
Date // TimeSaturday, September 23 // 2 pm
LocationSt. Louis, Mo. (Chaifetz Pavilion)
StreamMatch 1: ESPN+
Match 2: ESPN+
Live StatsMatch 1: Statbroadcast
Match 2: Statbroadcast

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Saint Louis University women’s volleyball team will host its long anticipated 2023 home opener at Chaifetz Pavilion, Friday night against Virginia Commonwealth University.

The contest will be the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both clubs and will be the first of two matches the Billikens and Rams will play this weekend. The second will come on Saturday, also at Chaifetz Pavilion.

First Serve

After being on the road for 12-straight matches, the Billikens will kick off their 2023 home slate and conference schedule this weekend when VCU comes to town on Homecoming weekend.

Dating back to the program’s inception in 1975, SLU has never started with 12-straight road contests, making Friday’s home opener the latest in school history. The team last played 11-straight matches away from home to open its campaign in 2005.

Since 2018 the Billikens are 3-2 in home openers. 

SLU is 5-15 all-time against VCU. The Billikens and Rams last met on October 22-23, 2022, which ended in 2-3 and 0-3 losses against the Rams. The Billikens came out on top in 2021, defeating VCU, 3-2.

Top Notch Service

The Billikens are off to a hot start this year in service aces and have compiled 91 through their  four weekends in action (nine matches, 48 sets, 1.90 per set).

SLU’s 1.90 service aces per set currently rank second in the A-10.

The Billikens also rank 27th in the Nation in the category.

Double the Fun

Two Billikens have recorded double-doubles so far this season with Emily Henken and Kate Aupperle both achieving the feat.

Henken has recorded three double-doubles so far this season against Bradley (17 kills, 10 digs), UAlbany (17 kills, 12 digs) and SEMO (10 kills, 13 digs).

Aupperle’s double-doubles came against Bradley where she recorded 13 digs and 41 assists in the Billikens’ win over the Braves and against SEMO (24 assists, 11 digs).

Up Next

The Billikens’ conference schedule will be played in a home-and-home format the A-10 adapted in 2022. The one exception is a home-and-away series with Loyola Chicago beginning with a single contest at Chaifetz Pavilion on October 3, before concluding with a match in the Windy City on October 24.

After its opening Atlantic 10 matches against VCU this weekend, the Billikens will continue their conference slate at George Mason, September 29-30. 

SLU’s first match at George Mason will be played on Friday, September 29 at 5 p.m., while Saturday’s first serve will take place at 1 p.m.

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