Alma Arroyo led Charlotte in kills for the third straight match. |
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Billikens Snap Charlotte Road Winning Streak
Sept. 29, 2006
St. Louis, Mo. - After winning four in a row on the road, the Charlotte 49ers dropped their third Atlantic 10 match of the season in as many tries with a 3-0 loss (30-24, 31-29, 30-28) at Saint Louis Friday night at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center. Charlote drop to 11-8 on the season, with an 0-3 A-10 mark.
The Billikens took the early lead in game one and were up 6-4 before a Powers kill started a quick 3-0 run. Tatyana Menshikova followed with a kill, and Sutton Lasater and Menshikova had a block for a 9-4 SLU lead. The Bills still led 15-10 and strung together another 3-0 run. Sammi McCloud had a solo block to begin the run. After a Charlotte hitting error, Lasater posted a solo block for an 18-10 Billiken lead. The SLU advantage grew to 21-12, but the 49ers stormed back into the game with an 8-0 run on the service of junior Cory Dayton, which included a pair of aces and was started on a kill from junior Alma Arroyo. Arroyo led the Niners with 15 kills on the night. At 23-20, Charlotte got no closer than three the rest of the game. Whitney Behrens served three more points for a 25-20 lead as the Billikens held on for the win. Powers was key in the game with six kills in eight swings.
The 49ers led for most of game two and stretched a 17-14 lead to 25-18. A Lasater kill began a SLU comeback. Sammi McCloud served an ace, followed by a Powers kill and a Charlotte error. The 49ers regrouped and looked as if they were set to tie the match at 1-1 when they held a 28-23 lead. A Menshikova kill ignited a 3-0 outburst as the Billikens drew to 28-26. A Cori Dayton kill pushed the 49ers to game point, but the Billikens would not relent. Lauren Christman notched a kill, and Whitney Roth served up an ace. McCloud pounded down a kill to tie the game at 29-29. Christman and Menshikova teamed on a block as the Billikens themselves forged game point. The Billikens dug the ball on Charlotte's next swing, and Menshikova terminated for a scintillating 31-29 comeback win.
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The Billikens jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead to begin game three and still held that margin until 19-14. However, the 49ers scored five in a row to tie the game at 19-19, again on Dayton's service and a pair Arroyo kills. The game stayed close and was tied at 25-25 until the Billikens reached match point with a 4-0 run. Christman had two kills and a Sarah Entzeroth ace were key to the outburst. Charlotte would not go away and scored three in a row to close to 29-28 on Dayton's serve and another pair of Arroyo kills. However, Powers' kill bounced off a Charlotte defender to finally end the contest.
"We were able to force some errors on this young, but talented Saint Louis team," said Charlotte head coach Lisa Marston. "But it seemed like every time we would get back in the match, we would give in to the pressure of being back in it."
"This is a talented Saint Louis team. But despite our great energy and improved blocking, we need to be able to handle pressure situations better."
Sophomore libero Carly Romberg was the lone double digit digger for the match, finishing with 10. Claire Crumpton led the defensive charge with five of Charlotte's 10 blocks.
Charlotte continues the A-10 road trip with a flight to Pittsburgh to battle Duquesne. The match begins Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
