Winter 2008
Junior Bills Take State
The St. Louis University High School varsity volleyball team captured its fourth state title last night on May 17 versus the Lafayette Lancers at Vianney High School. The Jr. Billikens earned their first volleyball state title since 2003 in two games over Lafayette, 25-19 and 25-21.
The Jr. Billikens, ranked first in the metropolitan area before the title match, finished their season with a 29-1-1 record.
The championship game was truly a team effort. Senior Rory Faust picked apart Lafayette's passers early in the first game to propel SLUH to a good lead. When Lafayette started creeping back in the middle of the first game, SLUH's blockers put a couple balls to the floor that shifted the momentum. Senior Dan Thuet came up with some big defensive plays, including a one-handed dig of Lafayette’s middle hitter to keep game point alive for SLUH in the first game.
Senior Murphy Troy pounded in a run of tough jump serves in the middle of the second game to help bring SLUH back from a five-point deficit. SLUH's outside hitters, Troy and Anthony Hock, were terrific all night. Faust dominated the middle both as a blocker and as a hitter.
"All of our seniors proved themselves as leaders—both by the way they played and by the way they treated their teammates and their opponents," says SLUH volleyball coach Terry Quinn. "I was really proud of all of them. Some of these guys were at Meramac in 2003 the last time we won state—eighth-graders who'd just been accepted to SLUH. They've all been waiting a long time to win it themselves, and they did with heart and with class."
Quinn added, "I also think it’s a great win for Paul Scovill, who, because he’s quiet and humble, doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but who has poured a lot of effort and pride into the program over the years and has brought us four state titles now."
Last modified: 10/01/2007 10:32 am
