(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
BILLIKEN PREVIEW – Saint Louis volleyball takes on Missouri in Columbia, Mo. on Tuesday, Sept. 5. It is the first meeting between the teams since 1995.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION – Free live statistics are available for the Mizzou contest. Click the live stats link in the schedule box under the headline rotator at SLUBillikens.com. The match also will be televised on the SEC Network and online at ESPN3.com. The stream is free to all subscribers of ESPN.
LAST TIME OUT –The Billikens (4-3) dominated the field at the Leatherneck Invitational Sept. 5-6. Saint Louis defeated UTEP (3-0), Eastern Illinois (3-1) and host Western Illinois (3-0) en route to the tournament title. Setter Meredith Boe was named the tournament MVP. Middle blockers Taylor Paulson and Lauren Leverenz also earned All-Tournament accolades.
A-10 ACCOLADES – Setter Meredith Boe and middle blocker Lauren Leverenz each earned weekly honors from the Atlantic 10 this week. Boe was named the conference Player of the Week, while Leverenz earned Rookie of the Week honors. They are the second and third honors bestowed upon the Billikens this season.
DEFENSIVE DANDIES – Middle blocker Taylor Paulson is averaging 1.28 blocks per set, tied for third in the Atlantic 10. Libero Anna Church leads the A-10 with 5.16 digs per set. SLU is second in the A-10 in digs per set with 17.40.
MISS ASSIST – Setter Meredith Boe notched 1,116 assists (10.0 per set) as a sophomore in 2013, the second-highest total in the Atlantic 10. She is the 18th setter in SLU history to surpass the 1,000-assist mark in a single season. Boe ranks 14th all-time at SLU for career assists with 1,452. In 2014, Boe averages 11.2 assists per set, second most in the A-10.
ABOUT THE BILLIKENS – The Billikens are led at the net by reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Danielle Rygelski, who leads Saint Louis in kills (3.52 per set) and aces (eight). Meredith Boe directs the SLU attack with 11.20 assists per set. Libero Anna Church is a stalwart on the back line with 5.16 digs per set. Taylor Paulson has been a defensive force on the front line, recording a team-leading 32 blocks (1.28 per set).
SCOUTING MISSOURI – The Tigers (4-3) are led offensively by the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year and AVCA All-American Carly Kan. Kan has a team-leading 3.86 kills per set. Mizzou runs a two-setter lineup with Loxley Keala (5.82 assists per set) and Ali Kreklow (4.96 assists per set) running the offense. Defensively, the tandem of Whitney Little (26 blocks) and Emily Thater (27 blocks) lead Missouri at the net, while Sarah Meister (4.07 digs per set) runs the back row.
UP NEXT – Saint Louis hosts Omaha, Canisius and Air Force at the Billiken Invitational Sept. 12-13.
