University of Dayton Athletics

ST. LOUIS – The University of Dayton volleyball team faltered against Saint Louis with a four-set loss on Saturday (25-13, 22-25, 21-25, 20-25).

This was Dayton's first regular-season Atlantic 10 loss since November 5, 2022.

With a 10-6 lead, UD went on a 10-point run in the first set. Senior Gabriela Machin Borges began the run, tallying two kills in the run. Dayton also had three block assists, with junior Abigail Cresse on all three. Senior Kamryn Hunt joined her on two, with Machin Borges earning the third block assist with Cresse. Serving during the stretch, sophomore Morgan Asleson also had an ace. The Billikens were able to put the set within 10 at 23-13, but a kill and an ace for Vinson gave Dayton the win.

Saint Louis kept set two much closer, leading by three several times throughout the set and reaching 20 points first at 20-16. Dayton took advantage of a pair of service errors by SLU to make the score 22-19, but the Billikens reached set point first at 24-20. Cresse tallied a kill to prevent the set from ending, followed by an ace for freshman Sidney Sprada, but Saint Louis put the set away at 25-22.

Dayton narrowly led at times throughout the third set, getting out ahead by only two points at most. Down 15-13 at the technical timeout, a four-point run with kills by Machin Borges, senior Kaleigh Meritt and Cresse gave the Flyers a 17-15 lead. Despite the Flyers leading 21-20, SLU scored five straight to win the third set.

The Flyers opened the fourth set with a 3-0 lead, good for Dayton's largest lead of the set. Trailing 12-11, UD regained a lead with a three-point run with a pair of kills from Hunt. The Billikens responded with a five-point run to regain their lead, holding on to a lead and preventing Dayton from forcing a fifth set.

BY THE NUMBERS
11 – Kills for Kamryn Hunt and Kaleigh Meritt, leading the Flyers

2 – Service aces for Meritt, contributing to Dayton's six aces

9 – Total blocks for Abigail Cresse with one solo block and eight block assists

9 – Blocks for Dayton as a whole, including 17 block assists

UP NEXT
Dayton hosts George Washington in the Frericks Center on Oct. 16 and 17.