Rice University Athletics
Volleyball: Game Notes #12
11/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Rice will host the TCU Horned Frogs on Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m.
vs. SMU (13-12, 4-8)
The Owls will honor their seniors when they play their last home match of the season against the Mustangs on Saturday, November 18 at 3 p.m.
at Hawaii (23-0, 13-0)
Rice ends their season on the road against national powerhouse Hawaii. The match is slated for Tuesday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
Rice's Probable Starting Lineup (2000 per game averages)
RICE OWLS 2000 RECORD (15-15, 4-9)
OH 3 Klara Zelinka (zuh-LINK-uh) 6-0, Sr.-3L, Houston 2.5k, 2.7d
MB 4 Briana Cook (BRI-an-uh) 6-1, So.-1L, Houston 1.7k, 1.4b
OH 10 Rebekah Neal 5-9, Fr.-HS, Paramount, Calif. 1.1k, 1.7d
OH 11 Leigh Leman (le-MAHN) 5-9, Jr.-2L, Magnolia 3.8k, 3.9d
OH 12 Karolina Zelinka (zuh-LINK-uh) 6-0, Sr.-3L, Houston 4.1k, 3.6d
MB 14 Courtney Smith 6-0, Jr.-2L, San Diego, Calif. 1.4d, 0.6b
RICE BENCH
OH 1 Remi Aderohunmu (ah-DARE-uh-moo) 5-10,Sr.-3L, Irving 1.0d
OH 2 Rhonda Sigman 5-8, Fr.-HS, Spring, Texas
DS 5 Michelle Craven 5-7, Jr. 2-L, Fort Worth 1.9d
OH 7 Alison Broadfoot 6-0, Jr.-2L, Clear Lake 0.7k, 1.0d
S 8 Mariel Davenport Pollock 6-0, So.-1L, Bethesda, Md. 8.9a, 1.8d
MB 9 Elizabeth Davenport Pollock 6-1, So.-1L, Bethesda, Md. 1.5k, 1.1b
OH 13 Allison Donohue 5-9, Fr.-HS, Los Gatos, Calif. 0.7d
Rice Coach Julio Morales
Morales (Puerto Rico, 1974; M.Ed., Houston, 1975; Ph.D., Maryland, 1991) is currently in his fifth year as head coach of the Owls... He is 128-98 overall in his 10+ years as a head coach... He has compiled a 72-91 overall record in his years at the helm for the Owls... An internationally recognized coach, Morales has guided both mens and womens squads at the college and international level... As the head coach of the womens team at the University of Puerto Rico, Morales guided his alma mater to a 56-7 record over six seasons (1975-81)... Along with his 88.9 winning percentage, he led his womens teams to four University Athletic League Championships... Morales also served a pair of stints as the head coach for the Gamecocks mens team, 1986-87 and 1992-95... As the mens coach, he tallied a 58-20 mark with a championship and four runner-up finishes... He is assisted by Jose Santiago (Puerto Rico, 1993; M.A., Indiana State, 1998), who is in his fifth year with the Owls, and Tiffany Carrethers (Rice University, 1998), who is in her first year with the Owls after spending the past year and a half with the United States Professional Volleyball League.
Rice Versus The Field
After losing earlier this season to TCU, the Owls series lead was cut to 5-4. The Horned Frogs defeated Rice 15-12, 7-15, 19-17, 12-15, 15-12 at home on October 14. SMU took the advantage with a 3-0 win (15-6, 15-8, 18-16) at home on October 13, and now lead the series 5-4. The Owls have never beaten Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine hold the 7-0 advantage over the Owls. Hawaii beat Rice 15-8, 15-12, 15-9 back on October 21 at Autry Court.
A Look Back
The Owls had a busy week last week, playing three matches in five days. They began the week at home against Stephen F. Austin. Despite having two players with triple-doubles, two players tally double-doubles, and six players notch double digit digs, the Owls couldn't pull off the win. The Owls were out-hit . 207 to .177 in the 15-7, 14-16, 15-11, 9-15, 10-15 loss, which was the ninth consecutive for Rice. Senior Karolina Zelinka notched a double-double with 18 kills and 24 digs. Junior Leigh Leman recorded her third triple-double of the year with 19 kills, 17 digs and a career high 27 assists, while adding two blocks. Freshman Rebekah Neal reached the triple-double mark for the first time this season with 14 kills, 10 digs and a career high 38 assists. Neal also served up three service aces for the Owls. The younger Zelinka sister, Klara Zelinka, tallied her seventh double-double this year with 18 kills and 14 digs. The Owls then headed west to California, where they faced the Fresno State Bulldogs on Friday night. Karolina Zelinka notched her 20th double-double this season as the Owls snapped their losing streak with the 15-9, 10-15, 15-17, 15-9, 15-7 victory. Rice swept the season series with Fresno State as Zelinka knocked down 18 kills on 45 attempts with seven errors, and hit the court for 22 digs. Leman notched her fourth triple-double this fall with 17 kills, 12 digs and 25 assists. Sophomore middle blocker Briana Cook had an outstanding evening for the Owls, posting nine kills and eight blocks. The Owls out-hit the Bulldogs .203 to .132. Momentum was on the Owls side as they headed into the match against San Jose State, but momentum wasn't enough to carry Rice, as they lost in three, 7-15, 1-15, 11-15. Several Owl reserves saw significant playing time in game three. Junior Alison Broadfoot, sophomores Mariel and Elizabeth Davenport Pollock and freshman Allison Donahue played well for the Owls. Elizabeth Davenport Pollock finished the night with six kills and two blocks for Rice. The Owls were out-hit .295 to .049.
Snapping the Streak
The Owls 3-2 win at Fresno State last Friday night snapped a record-tying nine match losing streak. The last time a Rice team had lost nine straight matches was in 1980. This year's streak dates all the way back to the unlucky day of Friday, October 13, when the Owls lost at SMU in three straight games.
Senior Salute
This Saturday's match against SMU marks the last home game for three Rice seniors. Karolina and Klara Zelinka, and Remi Aderohunmu will be honored for their commitment, dedication and endless play before the match. The Zelinka's have left their mark on Rice volleyball, as Karolina is the all-time digs leader with 1,188 and counting. She also owns the third spot all-time at Rice in kills with 1,476. She is tied for ninth all-time in service aces with 119, and holds the eighth spot all-time in block assists (209) and total blocks (236). The elder Zelinka has played in 114 games this season, starting all 30 matches for the Owls, has tallied 466 kills, 413 digs and 93 total blocks. Her younger sister, Klara, has 1,013 career digs, good for third all-time. She has knocked down 943 kills, 10th best at Rice, and stands tied for fourth all-time in block assists with 943, and owns the seventh spot all-time with 294 total blocks. Klara has knocked down 281 kills this fall, hit the court for 304 digs, and gone up for 85 total blocks. She has played in 113 games, and has started all 30 matches alongside her sister. Aderohunmu has seen limited action this season due to injuries, but that doesn't mean she hasn't helped her squad. She was the spark in the Owls game three win at Tulsa earlier this year, when she entered the lineup with her team down 9-11, and served up six straight points, including one service ace, for the game three win. She has tallied 85 kills, 13 assists, 15 service aces, 189 digs and 17 total blocks during her time at Rice.
Record Watch
Several other Owls find themselves leaving their mark in the Rice history book. Leigh Leman ranks fourth all-time at Rice in digs, with 1,011, behind teammate Klara Zelinka. Briana Cook has tallied 251 block assists, good for sixth place all-time, and owns the seventh spot in total blocks, with 286. She remains at eighth in solo blocks, with 35.
Blocking Mania
The Owls aren't the ninth best blocking team in the nation for nothing. Rice has set a new season record for block assists (595 and counting) and total blocks (359.5 and counting), and they still have three matches to go. Briana Cook is on her way to the second best blocking season by any Owl. Former Owl Libra Taylor tallied 168 total blocks in 1998. Cook currently has 156 this season, passing Owls assistant coach Tiffany Carrethers, who had 152 total blocks in 1995.
Traveling Woes
The road has not been so friendly to the Owls this season. Before their road win at Fresno last Friday night, Rice had not won a conference match on the road. Rice is 4-9 on the road this season, with their wins coming at North Carolina State, Sam Houston State, McNeese State, and last Friday at Fresno State.
Rice in the WAC
Senior Karolina Zelinka leads the WAC in service aces, with 43 total so far this season (0.38 per game), including four in the last three matches. She is also ranked fifth in kills (466, 4.09 kpg), and third in digs (413, 3.62 dpg). Briana Cook finds herself the second best blocker in the WAC, with 156 (1.37 bpg), while Leigh Leman ranks second in digs with 427 (3.85 dpg). Rice is the second best blocking team in the league, behind Hawaii. The Owls 3.12 blocks per game is second to the Rainbow Wahine's 3.21 per game. Rice is also second in the conference in digs, behind SMU. The Owls have collected 1,983 digs this season (17.24 dpg).
Opponent Outlook
Rice will face TCU for the last time as a Western Athletic Conference match, as the Horned Frogs will move to Conference-USA next year. TCU is coming off a 3-1 (14-16, 15-11, 15-2, 15-2) win over Sam Houston State on November 7 and a 3-1 (9-15, 15-13, 10-15, 13-15) loss at crosstown, and conference, rival SMU. Senior outside hitter Amy Atamanczuk knocked down 47 kills on 119 attempts with 11 errors (.303) in the two matches. She leads the squad, and is ranked fourth in the WAC, in kills with 493. She has collected 353 digs so far this season, first for the Horned Frogs, and fifth best in the WAC. Also hitting well for TCU is junior Marci King. The Woodlands native owns a .251 hitting percentage on the year, knocking down 350 kills, and is second on the team with 306 digs. Head coach Sandy Troudt is in her fourth season at the helm of the TCU program. The Horned Frogs will travel to UTEP and host San Jose State and Fresno State at home to end their season.
The SMU Mustangs lost to Oral Roberts, 10-15, 7-15, 15-13, 15-11, 9-15 at home on November 8 and defeated TCU on November 10 at home. Senior Kelly Klecka knocked down 53 kills and added 23 digs in the two matches. She has totaled 396 kills this season, third best in the WAC. Her team high 290 digs is good for fourth best in the WAC. Senior middle blocker Melissa Godwin ranks second on the squad with 288 kills and has a .302 hitting percentage, fifth best in the WAC. Godwin has gone up for 69 blocks, 11 solo and 58 assists. As a team, SMU ranks first in the WAC in kills, with 1,540 total (17.11 kpg), and assists, tallying 1,429 (15.88 apg). Junior setter Tara Hatfield leads the WAC in assists as well, with 1,172 total (13.95 apg). Head coach Lisa Seifert is in her fourth season as a head coach, all of them at SMU.
The University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine are one of the top two teams in the country. UH enters this week undefeated at 23-0 overall, 13-0 in WAC play. They host WAC newcomer Nevada before the Owls make their visit to Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine have beaten 18 of their 23 opponents in straight sets. Pepperdine took them to five games, and Texas A&M, UC Santa Barbara, Pepperdine (game 2) and Nevada all won one game off the Wahine. Last week, Hawaii defeated Tulsa 15-5, 15-13, 15-8. The Rainbow Wahine are led by sophomore Lily Kahumoku, who has notched 311 kills (4.64 kpg), second best in the WAC. Hawaii leads the blocking game in the WAC, behind freshman Maja Gustin's 120 total blocks (1.67 bpg). Hawaii is all but guaranteed at least a share for the WAC title, and a berth in the NCAA post-season. Head coach Dave Shoji is in his 26th year at Hawaii.
