CINCINNATI - Despite winning the first set by a 25-18 margin, Saint Louis fell 3-1 at Xavier Saturday in Atlantic 10 Conference volleyball action. The Musketeers won the final three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-20.

The Billikens fall to 6-8 overall and 2-2 in A-10 play. They continue their four-match road swing next weekend when they face Fordham (Oct. 7) and Rhode Island (Oct. 9). Xavier improves to 12-5 and 4-0 in the A-10 with the victory.

Alyssa Deno led the Billikens with 11 kills and was one dig shy of finishing with a double-double. Cassie Clarke registered six kills and 32 assists, while Grace Bonoma and Ashley Gaillot posted a team-high 13 digs apiece. Emma Goldschmidt collected nine kills, while Andrea Beaty posted eight.

For the second match in a row, SLU posted a victory in set one. The Bills reeled off four straight points to take a 12-7 advantage, getting kills from four different Billikens. Kills from Goldschmidt and Carly Marcum put the Billikens on top 19-12, and they sealed the set one victory on a Marcum kill.

In set two, the teams traded points for much of the way. A Xavier error pulled the Billikens to within two at 22-20, but Xavier reeled off the final three points in the set to even the match at 1-1.

Set three saw the Billikens race out to a 5-1 advantage thanks in part to kills by Deno and Goldschmidt and a Goldschmidt block, but the Musketeers clawed their way back and eventually tied it up at 6-6. The Bills regained the lead and were up 11-8 before Xavier rallied once again rallied and took the lead for good at 13-12.

The Billikens fell behind early in the fourth set, but rallied to take a 14-10 advantage on a Deno kill. However, Xavier would go on to record seven straight points and led 18-15. Kills by Clarke and Aleksandra Niemiec trimmed the Billiken deficit to just three at 17-20, but Xavier would clinch the match with the 25-20 win.