ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis University volleyball team muscled out a five-set victory at home Friday night, defeating George Washington 3-2.
 
Behind a match high 18 and 17-kill efforts from Emily Henken and Delaney Rice, the Billikens tallied 58 total kills and seven service aces to move to 14-15 on the season and 7-10 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. 
 
The Billikens jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the first set, but the Revolutionaries fought back, cutting the deficit down to two points (23-21). Kayla Richardson helped finish the opening race to 25, putting down a kill following Henken's near service ace. Three service aces and .276 hitting defined the opening set, giving SLU the early advantage. 
 
Set two followed a different script for the home team as the Billikens found themselves in an eight-point deficit (16-8). SLU fought back, rattling off five straight points to pull within three. Points later, two Rice kills and a hammer from Jillian Mattingly pulled the Billikens within one. The Revolutionaries did not relinquish their lead, though, taking the second set, 25-20. 
 
After getting off to a 4-0 start, the Billikens found themselves in a three-point deficit (16-13) midway through set four. Three kills from Trinity Luckett helped spark a comeback for the home team, but the Billikens soon trailed 24-19. Despite fighting off five-straight Revolutionary match points, the visiting team took set three, 27-25. 
 
The night's final set was a back-and-forth affair, featuring six ties and three lead changes. Aided by .273 hitting and 12 kills, the Billikens gritted out set four, 25-20, to force a decisive fifth set. 
 
Henken put down the first kill of the final set for the Billikens setting the tone early. While holding the Revolutionaries to -.211 hitting, SLU won the race to 15, solidifying the five-set victory.
 
SLU will be back in action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. to finish off the regular season against the Revolutionaries. First serve for the Senior Day match will take place at 2 p.m.