Nov. 9, 2002

Final Stats

St. Louis - In the final home match for five Billiken seniors, the Saint Louis University volleyball team rallied for a 3-1 triumph over Charlotte. Game scores were 28-30, 30-24, 30-24, 30-28. With the win, the Billikens completed the home portion of C-USA play with a perfect 6-0 slate. Billiken seniors Colleen Hunter, Ember Knobeloch, Beth Middendorf, Brooke Minniear and Missy Werges all made their final home appearances this evening.

After game one was tied at 20-20, the teams knotted the score six more times before the 49ers took control. Charlotte led 27-25 before two straight Knobeloch kills tied the match. She then followed with a solo block to put the Billikens up 28-27. However, two straight SLU hitting errors gave the 49ers game point. On the ensuing rally, both teams had excellent chances to end the point before Abbey Szlanfucht ended the long point.

In game two, Charlotte led 15-11 before the Billikens slowly rallied. Alyson Merchant keyed the comeback by serving five straight points to give SLU a 19-16 advantage. The Billikens still held a 25-22 lead when Hunter and Merchant had consecutive kills, and the 49ers committed a hitting error for a 28-22 margin. Charlotte tallied three of the next four points, but a Charlotte service error pushed the Billikens to game point and Hunter ended it at 30-24.

Brooke Minniear pushed a ball into the corner to end the game.

Game four was close throughout with neither team leading by more than three points before the Billikens closed out the match.The Billikens took a 23-21 lead but Charlotte tallied three straight points, capped by an incredible dig for a kill by Holly Kreyling while in a prone position. The teams traded points until 27-27. Szlanfucht drilled a kill for Charlotte, but Colleen Hunter answered to tie the game. Charlotte had a swing to take a one-point lead, but the ball was long to push the Billikens to match point. After a long rally, Colleen Hunter ended the match with a ball to the corner.

Colleen Hunter led the Billikens with her 50th career double-double, finishing with 18 kills and 16 digs. Minniear dug 21 balls to go along with nine kills. Ember Knobeloch had 10 kills and four blocks. Beth Middendorf had 29 assists and 11 digs for the Billikens. Courtney Burg led the 49ers with 21 kills and 17 digs. Abby Szlanfucht posted a double-double with 16 kills and 22 digs. Libero Laura Darnell also had 22 digs while setter Molly McDonald registered 58 assists, seven kills and five blocks.

The Billikens are now 19-9 on the season, 9-3 in Conference USA. Charlotte is 14-14, 5-6 in C-USA