Sept. 1, 2007

Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. - Saint Louis came out with renewed energy in the final game of the Radisson Hotel Invitational, defeating Western Illinois 30-23, 30-16, 30-18 to take the tournament title. Whitney Behrens earned MVP honors, while Bridget Fonke and Whitney Roth were named to the All-Tournament team.

"It was a great team effort to get this win," SLU head coach Anne Kordes said. "We were really exhausted after that Montana match, but I was impressed with our enthusiasm and energy against Western (Illinois). Our players did a great job and it was a tribute to how hard they've been working and how fit they are from preseason training."

The Billikens (5-1) never faltered in taking the first game but had to come from behind to win game two. The Westerwinds (1-6) scored the first point of the game and ran out to a 5-1 lead before SLU got back on track with a pair of Lauren Christman kills. The Bills eventually took the lead at 7-6 and never relinquished it for the 30-16 victory.

SLU continued to dominate in game three, leading by as many as 15 points before allowing WIU to make a small run. The Bills fittingly closed it out with kill by Fonke.

Fonke turned in a match-high 19 kills, while Sally Warning recorded 13. Meanwhile, Sutton Lasater and Christman had 10 apiece. SLU out-hit WIU .355 to .130 for the match. Behrens recorded nine digs while Megan Boken tallied 12 and Galbraith had 11.

Next weekend Saint Louis hosts the Santo Bento Volleyball Invitational at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center on Sept. 7 and 8. Connecticut, IUPUI and Southeast Missouri State round out the field.