Rice University Athletics
Volleyball: Owls Lose 2-3 at TCU
10/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Rice (14-7, 3-4 WAC) tied the all-time record for attempts in a single match with 258, a record that has stood for 13 years. For the match, Rice hit .155, behind senior co-captain Karolina Zelinka's career high 33 kills. Freshman Rebekah Neal saw significant playing time, and knocked down a career high 16 kills on 57 attempts with six errors. Senior Klara Zelinka recorded her sixth double-double with 14 kills and a match-high 24 digs.
The Owls had a tough time finding their game and were out hit in the opening game .234 to .102. Karolina Zelinka posted seven kills and five digs to lead Rice in the 12-15 game one loss.
Game two was all Rice, as they opened to a 6-1 lead, and never relinquished, holding the Horned Frogs (12-9, 4-2 WAC) to a -.023 hitting percentage (10-11-44), and winning 15-7. Rice hit 15-8-49 (.143), led again by Karolina Zelinka, who recorded six kills to reach the double figure mark. The Owls had the momentum on their side heading into game three.
The third game was a fight back and forth, as the Owls knocked down 27 kills on 82 attempts with 14 errors, and hit the court for 37 digs. Zelinka reached the double-double mark for the 14th time this season knocking down nine of her personal best 33 kills, and adding nine of her 20 digs, in game three. Rice couldn't hold on for the win as TCU won game three 19-17.
The Owls didn't give up, and forced a fifth game with a 15-12 game four win. Karolina Zelinka and Neal carried the Owls, knocking down a combined 14 kills for a .355 hitting percentage. Rice out-hit TCU .227 to .163 en route to the game four win.
For the sixth time this season, the Owls played to a fifth game. Rice couldn't close the deal, and lost game five, and the match, to the Horned Frogs. Rice was limited to a .167 hitting percentage in game five.
The Owls fall to 3-4 in conference play, 14-7 overall, and head to San Marcos to face Southwest Texas State on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup. The Owls return home next Friday when they host the Nevada Wolf Pack.
