Visiting Saint Louis connected on 38 kills, while the Morehead State volleyball team committed 23 attack errors, and the Billikens topped the Eagles 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-15) Friday night (September 6) in the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational at MSU's Wetherby Gym.
Danielle Rygelski smacked a match-high 15 kills and hit .367 for the visitors, who improved to 2-2. The Eagles fell to 2-3 and saw their 14-match regular-season home winning streak halted.
The Billikens served up eight aces and hit .233. Mallory Dillon added 11 kills. SLU held advantages in kills (38-26), digs (50-45) and blocks (5-4). MSU was limited to just .027 hitting.
SLU manufactured a 7-2 run midway through the first frame to set the tempo. Billikenlibero Anna Church, who finished with a match-best 17 digs, served five points in the pivotal momentum swing.
Morehead State fell behind 7-1 in the second set but rallied via a 7-0 spurt. Kills by sophomore outside hitter Courtney Smith, junior right-side hitter Alex Fitzmorris and sophomore middle blocker Hannah Sigala propelled the scoring flurry. Later in the set, Smith landed an ace to tie it at 18, but the visitors outscored the Eagles 7-2 down the stretch.
The Eagles never led in the final set. SLU used a 12-4 run to distance itself after leading 8-6. The Billikens sported a balanced offense that produced 12 kills in the first stanza and 13 in the second and third.
Morehead State was led by Smith with six winners. Senior libero Leslie Schellhaas tallied a team-high 13 digs. MSU continues play in the tournament Saturday (September 7) with matches against IUPUI at 1:30 p.m. and Montana State at 7 p.m.
