Trojans Begin Billiken Invitational with 3-0 Victory

ST. LOUIS – The Billiken Invitational began on a great note for Little Rock volleyball as it swept Louisiana Tech with a 3-0 win (29-27, 25-14, 25-15) on Friday afternoon in Chaifetz Pavilion on the campus of Saint Louis University.
 
Marina Avram led the Trojans (4-6) with 13 kills while hitting .414 with eight digs. Veronica Marin had a match-high .556 hitting percentage with 10 kills and five block assists. Setter Taylor Lindberg set the tempo for Little Rock with 35 assists to go along with two aces, four digs, three block assists and two kills. Sydnee Martin scooped up 16 digs while Mya Robinson tallied a career-high 11 digs with seven kills.
 
Gina Cortesi and Madeline Davis each tallied nine kills for the Lady Techsters (4-7) while libero Jacie McClure dug up 16 digs.
 
Little Rock completed the three-set sweep as it led the entirety of the third frame. With a 14-11 lead, the Trojans went on a seven-point run to take a 21-11 lead. The Lady Techsters went on a 4-2 run but kills by Daisha Gillard and Maritza Mesa put the match away. Little Rock had more kills (15-6), assists (13-6) and digs (18-16) than Louisiana Tech in the final set.
 
After starting the second set with a four-point deficit, Little Rock took the lead at 13-12 with a five-point run. Louisiana Tech tied the set at 13 on a Trojan service error, but Little Rock rallied with a 12-1 run to take the set. The Trojans ended the set on a nine-point run as Nedima Kamberovic served up two aces during the rally. Little Rock outhit Louisiana Tech .481 to .133 as the Trojans put down 14 kills on 27 attempts with only one error. Avram and Marin each tallied five kills for the set while Lindberg had 13 assists. Martin had 13 digs for the frame while Marin put up four block assists.
 
Little Rock took set point at 24-20 in the first set, but Louisiana Tech battled back to take the lead at 25-24 thanks to five consecutive points. The two sides exchanged blows until tying for the final time at 27. The Trojans finally put the set away with two consecutive kills from Robinson. Avram had five kills with a team-high .400 hitting percentage while Lindberg had 11 assists.
 
Mesa finished the match with five kills, an ace, four digs and one block assist, and Gillard had seven kills with three total blocks.

The Trojans hit .283 for the match with 44 kills, 40 assists, eight aces, 45 digs and eight total blocks. The Lady Techsters hit .106 with 30 kills, 28 assists, five aces, 45 digs and four blocks.
 
Little Rock will continue the Billiken Invitational on Saturday as it faces host Saint Louis at noon and DePaul at 4:30 p.m.