Rice University Athletics
Rice University
SMU (C-USA)
Rice Holds Off SMU For 3-2 Victory
10/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2005
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HOUSTON -- After winning the first two games, the Rice volleyball team held off a determined SMU squad for a 30-27, 30-26, 27-30, 28-30, 15-10 victory in Conference USA action Saturday night at Autry Court.
The Owls got on the scoreboard first, jumping out to a 4-1 lead in game one, before the Mustangs rallied back to knot the score at five each. It was the first of nine ties in the frame. SMU grabbed the momentum to pull ahead by as many as four on two occasions, the last at 17-13. Rice began chipping away at the lead and, after a pair of ties, regained the lead at 24-23. The Mustangs tied the score three more times before the Owls converted three-straight points win the game.
It was a different story in game two as senior setter Kristina Hoban opened the frame by serving for seven-straight points for the Owls. Senior Olaya Pazo and junior Tessa Kuykendall teamed for blocks for two of Rice's first three points. The Owls surged ahead to a nine-point lead (14-5). The Mustangs wouldn't surrender, though, and rallied back to close to within a single point (18-17). Pazo answered back, scoring three of Rice's next four points, and the Owls never trailed again.
In game three, neither team could gain the upper hand in the early going. After seven ties, SMU took the lead for good off a block from Natalie Peters, but Rice didn't go down without a fight. With the Mustangs at game point, Hoban posted a kill then served up a pair of aces to close to 29-27 before SMU won with a kill.
The battle continued into game four with seven early ties before SMU scored five-straight. Rice answered right back with points to retake the lead, then, after four more ties, looked to take the game in hand pulling out to a 27-23 lead. Again the Mustangs showed their tenacity, scoring four straight to knot the score. Hoban posted another kill to give the Owls a brief lead, but SMU scored on three-consecutive kills to win the frame and force game five.
Despite the Mustangs scrappy efforts, the Owls wouldn't be denied, and Pazo recorded three-straight kills to open game five. Rice never looked back, charging out to a six-point lead to take the win.
Pazo was one off her career best with 25 kills to lead all hitters as five Owls posted double-digit kills. Kuykendall was next with 16 kills and sophomore Kristina Dennemann had a career high of 15. Hoban recorded her second career triple-double finishing the night with 10 kills, 59 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore libero Yvette Kirk matched the Rice mark for the second-most digs in a match with her 31. Freshman Karen Morgan also had a career night with 23 digs.
Caitlin Rainbird led the Mustangs with 20 kills, while Peters was impressive at the net with 15 blocks to go along with her 12 kills.
With the win, Rice improves to 10-4 overall and 2-2 in C-USA, while SMU falls to 6-11 and 2-3.
The Owls continue their current home stand on Tuesday, hosting Sam Houston State at 7 pm at Autry Court in a non-conference match.
