ST. LOUIS -- The Saint Louis University Volleyball team will travel to the Redbird Classic over the weekend to continue its 2023 slate. SLU (4-2) will play Miami (2-4) to open the tournament on Friday morning before taking on tournament host Illinois State (0-6) that evening. The Billikens will close out their weekend against New Mexico State (3-2) Saturday morning. 
 

Saint Louis Volleyball // Redbird Classic
Match No. 1	Saint Louis (4-2) vs. Miami (2-4)
Date // Time	Friday, Sept. 8 // 10 a.m. (CT)
Match No. 2	Saint Louis (4-2) at Illinois State (0-6)
Date // Time	Friday, Sept. 8 // 7:30 p.m. (CT)
Match No. 3	Saint Louis (4-2) vs. New Mexico State (3-2)
Date // Time	Saturday, Sept. 9 // 12 p.m. (CT)
Location	Normal, Ill. (CEFCU Arena)
Stream	ESPN+ (SLU at Illinois State)
Live Stats	Live Stats (vs. Miami) Live Stats (at Illinois State) Live Stats (vs. New Mexico State)

First Serve

• Saint Louis continues its season this weekend at the Redbird Classic where it will face off against Miami (2-4), tournament host Illinois State (2-4) before concluding the invitational against New Mexico State (3-2) Saturday morning. 
• Last weekend SLU  moved to (4-2) on the year, earning wins over an undefeated Bradley team (3-1) and UAlbany (3-1) while dropping a lone, five-set match to Central Michigan.
• Dating back to the program's inception in 1975, SLU has never started with 12-straight road contests. The team last played 11 straight matches away from home to open its campaign in 2005.
• The Billikens sit fourth in the Atlantic 10 in four categories to start the season: hitting percentage (.242), assists (12.04 per set), kills (12.92 per set) and service aces (1.92 per set).
• The Billikens hold the conference-high single-match attack percentage for their efforts against Mississippi Valley. SLU hit .385 over three sets against the Delta Devils on Aug. 26.

By the Numbers

• 2: Emily Henken has recorded two double-doubles so far this season against Bradley (17 kills, 10 digs) and UAlbany (17 kills, 12 digs).
• 3: Freshman Trinity Luckett ranks 3rd in the A-10 in hitting percentage compiling a mark of .377 with 41 kills on 77 attemps through 24 sets.
• 55: Out of 331 teams the Billikens rank 55th in the NCAA in team assists compiling a total of 289 through six matches. 

Going for the Kill

• The Billikens have recorded 310 kills through their first six matches (24 sets, 12.92 per set) good for fourth in the A-10.
• Emily Henken leads the Billikens in kills this season with 76 total, averaging 3.62 per set. 
• Henken recorded a match-high 19 kills in SLU's first match of the season, a five-set win over Mercer. The number was just one shy of matching her career bestn of 20.
•  Henken's kills (76 total, 3.62 per set) rank fifth in the A-10.
• Delaney Rice ranks second for the Billikens in kills, with 64 (2.67 per set).
• Rice exploded for a season-high 15 kills in the Billikens' win over Bradley. 
• Kayla Richardson hit for a career-high 15 kills in a single match in the Billikens win over UAlbany last weekend.
• Freshman Trinity Luckett has been a force on the attack so far, recording the fifth-most kills on the team (41). Her hitting percentage of .377 ranks second on the team.

Up Next

Next weekend the Billikens will travel to Kansas City, Mo., to face Austin Peay, SEMO and Kansas City in the KC Roos Klassic, Sept. 15-16 to conclude nonconference play.