BRONX, N.Y. – Saint Louis won a close fourth set and ran away with the final frame to defeat Fordham 3-2 Friday in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
 
Addy Brus collected a match-high 24 kills and added a career-high 15 digs for her third double-double of the season. Brus hit a solid .294 (24-9-51).
 
Evelyn Fitz Hale turned in her first double-digit kill effort as a Billiken and led all players with a .565 hitting percentage (13-0-23), SLU's third-highest mark this year.
 
Carlie Rodgers registered a match-high 22 digs and committed just one error in 32 receptions.
 
Addie Lyon and Kate Aupperle posted 29 and 23 assists, respectively. Lyon's 10 digs gave her a second double-double on the season, while Aupperle narrowly missed with nine digs.
 
Kayla Jansen led the Billikens (6-7) with four blocks.
 
Saint Louis out-hit Fordham .253 to .213.
 
Saint Louis def. Fordham 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 27-25, 15-4
Set 1 – Fordham used a 9-1 run to go in front 9-4, but it was all Saint Louis from there. The Billikens regained the lead at 12-11 and gradually pulled away.
 
Set 2 – Neither team led by more than three points until the final score. A 19-19 tie was the ninth deadlock of the set, and Fordham closed with a 6-2 run.
 
Set 3 – A 7-0 spurt for the Billikens turned a 16-12 deficit into a 19-16 lead. Saint Louis was on top 21-19, but Fordham's 6-1 flurry gave the set to the Rams.
 
Set 4 – Fordham jumped out to a 4-0 edge, led by as many as five points, and remained in front until SLU pulled even at 20-20. After the Rams took a 21-20 lead, the Billikens tallied four straight to earn set point, only to see Fordham draw even at 24 and 25. But kills by Jansen and Brus allowed the Bills to tie the match.
 
Set 5 – Saint Louis scored the first four points and never looked back. A 9-1 run finished the set and the match.
 
The Billikens and Rams meet Saturday at 1 p.m. Central.