The SLU Billikens played at a tournament in Alabama last weekend, and will play in an event in Michigan this weekend. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Saint Louis University women’s volleyball team began its 2023 season with two wins and a loss at the Crimson Tide Invitational hosted by the University of Alabama over the weekend.

Saint Louis, which had a successful 18-13 season last year, is playing its first season under new head coach Andrea Beaty, and won its season opener on Friday morning, in a 3 sets to 2 thriller against Mercer University of the Southern Conference.

SLU lost the first set, but won the next two, before falling in the fourth 26-24. That set up a dramatic final set, which the Billikens were able to pull out 15-11.

Four different SLU players reached double digits in kills in the affair, led by senior outside hitter Emily Henken, who had a match-high 19 kills. Teammates Delaney Rice, Kayla Richardson, and Jillian Mattingly add 12, 12, and 10 kills, respectively.

Henken also contributed four service aces, while Rice had four blocks and Mattingly added three.

In the second match on Friday, Saint Louis took on the host school Alabama, and things didn’t go nearly as well.

The Crimson Tide cruised to a 3 sets to none win, by scores of 25-9, 25-17, and 25-20.

Richardson tied with three Alabama players for a match-high eight kills. Unfortunately, the Billikens only managed 26 kills in the entire match, which barely outnumbered the 23 kill errors the team totaled.

On Saturday, SLU looked much more like itself as it won a 3 sets to none match over Mississippi Valley State of the Southwest Athletic Conference. The Billikens dominated the Delta Devils by scores of 25-11, 25-9, and 25-13, on their way to going 2-1 for the opening weekend.

SLU’s hitting was much better on Day 2, as the Billikens compiled 45 kills and recorded 11 service aces, led by Vivian Kieffer’s team-high five. Rice had a match-high 10 kills, while freshmen Trinity Luckett and Josie Newcom added 10 kills and nine kills, respectively.

Saint Louis will head home for class and practice this week, before heading back out for play next weekend. This time, the Billikens will be headed north to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., for the Chippewa Invitational at Central Michigan University.

SLU will once again play three matches, two on Friday and one on Saturday. On Friday, the Billikens will play Bradley and Central Michigan, before closing the weekend on Saturday with a match against Albany.

The Billikens’ first home match at the newly-renovated Chaifetz Pavilion will be September 22, when they’ll host VCU in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.

2023 Saint Louis University Billikens Women’s Volleyball Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 1 (Friday)10:00 AMNeutralBradleyMt. Pleasant, Mich.
September 1 (Friday)7:30 PMAwayCentral MichiganMt. Pleasant, Mich.
September 2 (Saturday)12:00 PMNeutralAlbanyMt. Pleasant, Mich.
September 8 (Friday)10:00 AMNeutralMiami (Ohio)Normal, Ill.
September 8 (Friday)7:30 PMAwayIllinois StateNormal, Ill.
September 9 (Saturday)12:00 PMNeutralNew Mexico StateNormal, Ill.
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