Sept. 14, 2002

Final Stats

DeKalb, Ill. - The Billikens won their second straight match with a 3-1 against Wisconsin-Green Bay in the second match of the Country Inn and Suites Invitational in DeKalb, Ill. Game scores were 30-24, 20-30, 30-24-30-17. In the match, Colleen Hunter moved to within two kills of breaking the all-time kills record of 1,757. Hunter now has 1,756 in her career.

The Phoenix took an early 3-2 lead in game one but the Billikens tallied three straight for a 5-3 advantage. The teams traded points until 7-5 when SLU scored four straight points on Colleen Hunter hit a cross-court winner to end the game 30-24. Minniear and Ember Knobeloch both had four kills to lead SLU. The Billikens held the Phoenix to just a .111 hitting percentage.

The Phoenix began game two quickly with five straight points to grab the early lead. With UWGB leading 6-1, the Bills scored three straight to close to 6-4. The Phoenix led 9-6 and then ripped off an 8-2 run, including six in a row, to take control of the game. UWGB led by as many as 12 points before the Billikens made a late charge. SLU rattled off seven of eight points and made the score 27-20, but UWGB tallied the final three points to tie the match 1-1. The Phoenix offense picked up considerably in game two and hit .303 in the game while the Billikens hit just over .100.

The Billikens were the team that started quickly in game three and took a 6-0 lead. UWGB blocked a ball for their first point to end the SLU run and scored three more points to close to 6-4. Hunter notched three straight kills for the Bills to key a spurt that made it 12-6. The more points on a Hunter kill and ace and a Green Bay error made it 15-6. The Billikens extended the lead to as much as 20-10 but the Phoenix answered with three in a row. Green Bay eventually cut the lead to 21-16. A UWGB error and Missy Werges ace made it 23-16. But UWGB answered with four of the next five points and edged to within four at 24-20. Hunter and Knobeloch drilled consecutive kills for a 26-20 edge, but UWGB answered with three straight points. Saint Louis eventually held off the Phoenix rally. Minniear notched a kill for SLU and Knobeloch had a solo block for 28-24 advantage. Minniear then closed out the game with a kill and a service ace.

Game four was tied 3-3 before the Billikens ran off four straight points for a 7-3 lead. Green Bay responded with four of the next five points and closed to 8-7. With the score 9-8 SLU, the Bills outscored the Phoenix 4-2. Then, the Billikens reeled off nine points in a row for a 22-10 margin. Hunter had four kills in the run and the Phoenix hurt themselves with three errors in the run. Knobeloch took over in the late run with a solo block and the Bills' last three kills. The Billikens forced UWGB into a match-low -.103 hitting percentage in closing out the match.

Hunter paced the Billikens with 21 kills and 19 digs for her 39th career double-double. Knobeloch added 10 kills and had a team-high seven blocks. Minniear chipped in seven kills and added 18 digs. Setter Missy Werges both added three service aces for SLU. Janelle Tomlinson had a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs and added seven blocks for the Phoenix.

The Billikens win their second straight and are 6-3 while the Phoenix is now 4-5. The Bills finish up the tournament against host Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. tonight.