Sept. 12, 2000

Box Score

West Lafayette, Ind. - The Saint Louis University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision at Purdue on Tuesday evening. The game scores were 16-14, 15-2, 15-12. The meeting was the first for the Billikens against a Big Ten school since SLU played Wisconsin in 1995.

The Bills jumped out to a 14-8 lead, but could not finish the game. The teams posted nearly identical stats in game one. SLU had 22 kills, 11 errors on 52 attempts while Purdue had 23 kills, 12 errors on 50 swings. In game two, the Boilermakers hit .353 and held the Billikens to a -.222 attack percentage. Despite hitting just .136 in the third game, the Billikens pushed Purdue, which hit a sizzling .436, the final game. The Billikens again grabbed the early lead at 8-4, but Purdue showed its patience and closed out the match.

"The first and third games were close and we could have very easily won game one," said Nolen. "Our middles played the best for us. Purdue played very steadily and our youthfulness showed at times. Alyson Merchant played well, as did our bench. We had game point in the first game, but just couldn't get that final point. We settled down in the third game and played well."

Colleen Hunter led the Billikens with 15 kills and tied a career high with four assists. Ember Knobeloch added eight kills and two blocks while Jessica Moss contributed seven kills, four digs and two blocks. Playing in her homestate of Indiana, Fort Wayne native Brooke Minniear had chipped in four kills and had a match-high 10 digs. Shannan Swiney had 15 assists in two games for the Bills. Maegan Petersen led Purdue with 16 kills and Joanna Lowry had 13 kills. Purdue hit .321 for the match, the highest any SLU opponent has hit this season. The Bills served up eight aces.

The Billikens fall to 4-4 on the season, while the Boilermakers up their record to 8-1. The Bills begin Conference USA play this Friday afternoon in Charlotte when they face the 49rers at 1 p.m. The match will also serve as the first round match of the University of Georgia Tournament, which continues Saturday in Athens, Ga.