Nov. 10, 2006

Box Score

CINCINNATI - In a pivotal Atlantic 10 matchup, Xavier was downed by visiting Saint Louis, 3-1, on Friday night at Cintas Center. Senior Astyn Bjorklund led the way for the Musketeers with 14 kills and a team-high .355 hitting percentage. With the loss, the Musketeers fall to 16-11 on the season and 9-3 in conference action, while the Billikens improve to 18-8 overall and 10-2 in A-10 play.

XU began the contest by sticking close with the score tied at 15-15 but the visitors would score 16 of the final 25 points to close out the opening contest, 30-25. Xavier would take the second game in dramatic fashion, 32-30 before dropping the final two games by scores of 30-20 and 30-23.

Bjorklund and freshman Hillary Otte tied for team-high honors with 14 kills each on the evening. Senior Danielle Skrajewski rounds out the Musketeers in double digit kills with 10 as the outsider hitter also notched 10 digs to earn her 50th career double double. Freshman Lauren Kaminsky led the defensive efforts with a team-high 17 digs, while sophomore Jenn Welsh added 12 of her own. Welsh also dished out 44 assists and had a solo block and a block assist. Otte and junior Jill Quayle led the XU defense at the net as each posted five block assists.

As a team, Xavier was held to its third-lowest hitting percentage of the season as SLU held the home team to a .103 percentage. XU out-blocked the Billikens by a 10 to nine margin but the visitors totaled more kills (73-52) and more digs (82-74).

The Musketeers will return to the court tomorrow afternoon as XU welcomes Duquesne to Cintas Center for the final match of the regular season. The match against the Dukes will also round out the conference slate for the Blue and White, while the three seniors will be recognized for their four years of dedication to the program before the match.