ST. LOUIS – The Billikens snapped Dayton's 62-match regular-season Atlantic 10 winning streak with a 3-1 victory at Chaifetz Pavilion on Saturday, handing the Flyers their first regular-season conference loss since 2022.
Saint Louis (8-10, 3-4 A-10) won three straight sets after dropping the opener to take down the Flyers (14-6, 6-1 A-10). Head coach
Andrea Beaty-Cain returned to the sidelines for the first time in 12 matches after welcoming a baby girl.
Ellie Rink led the Billikens with 24 kills, a career high in a four-set match, while Rink,
Jetta Brenning and
Tamia Maddox each recorded a double-double.
SET 1 | SLU 13, UD 25
The teams traded points early before Dayton used a 6-1 run to take a 10-5 lead. The Flyers continued to build their advantage, scoring 10 consecutive points to go up 20-6. The Billikens put together a late 7-3 run but could not overcome the deficit.
SET 2 | SLU 25, UD 22
The teams traded points again to open the second set before an
Ellie Rink service ace gave the Billikens their first two-point lead at 14-12. Saint Louis continued to push its advantage to 20-16, then held off a late Dayton rally as the Flyers closed within 24-22. The Billikens secured the 25-22 win to even the match.
SET 3 | SLU 25, UD 21
Dayton opened with a 4-2 lead before Saint Louis battled back to tie the set at 5-5. The teams continued to trade points, with the Flyers building a 10-7 advantage before the Billikens responded to take a 14-12 lead. After Dayton moved ahead 20-18, Saint Louis rallied again, closing the set on a 7-1 run to earn the 25-21 win.
SET 4 | SLU 25, UD 20
The Flyers jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Billikens responded with a run to take an 8-5 advantage. Dayton tied the set at 9-9 and later moved ahead 14-12, but Saint Louis answered to take control late. The Billikens led 19-16 and extended the margin to 22-18. Dayton closed within 22-20, but Saint Louis finished strong to secure the 25-20 set win. The Billikens hit .400 in the fourth set.
NOTABLES
- The win marked Saint Louis' first victory over Dayton since 2022
- Rink recorded a career-high 24 kills in a four-set match, hitting .435 while adding 12 digs.
- Brenning recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 33 assists and 16 digs.
- Maddox tallied 11 kills and a season-high 15 digs for her double-double.
- J'La Sparks contributed five kills and seven total blocks, while Kayla Jansen added five total blocks.
UP NEXT
THe Billikens are on the road to face Fordham on Friday at 5 p.m. CT and Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
