The Charlotte 49ers open the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Volleyball Championships Friday, as the sixth-seeded 49ers face off against third-seeded Saint Louis Billikens at 5 p.m. at Cintas Center, hosted by Xavier University.

The Niners are making their fourth trip to the tournament in six years in the conference, yet they face an old foe. The Billikens made the move from Conference USA with Charlotte in time for the 2005 season. Charlotte will be meeting SLU on the volleyball court for the 24th time, including two previous times in tournament play (C-USA Tournament - 1997, 2001). SLU is 2-0 all-time against Charlotte in tournament play, and 17-6 over Charlotte all-time.

The Niners and Billikens met at Halton Arena in their only regular-season meeting in 2010, with SLU winning 3-1. Charlotte won that opening set in the four-set decision.

Alma Arroyo and Jessica Oldenburg share the Charlotte high mark for kills in an A-10 Tournament game, both accumulating 17 kills in a four-set loss to Dayton in 2005. Carly Romberg set the team's high mark for digs in an A-10 Tournament game with 19 versus Xavier in 2006. Charlotte has had one player in each of its A-10 Tournament matches to record a double-double. The last one recorded was last season in Charlotte's four0set loss to Xavier, when Sheri Davis had 37 assists and 11 digs.

The Niners were led offensively by then-freshmen Jenna Litoborski and Bianca Rouse, who had 10 kills each.

The winner advances to face Xavier Saturday evening at 5 p.m.