Rice University Athletics
Rice University
Sacramento State
Owls Win Crowne Plaza Rice Invitational Title
9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2005
HOUSTON -- The Owls put their 18-match home win streak on the line Saturday night and came out the victors with a thrilling 30-23, 26-30, 30-18, 23-30, 15-13 win against Sacramento State to take the 2005 Crowne Plaza Rice Invitational title Saturday night at Autry Court.
Senior Olaya Pazo led the way for the Owls (4-0) with a career best 24 kills Saturday, earning most valuable player honors. She led a balanced attack in game one as she, junior Tessa Kuykendall and sophomore Kristina Dennemann each posted four kills. Dennemann also anchored the Rice defense with eight digs in the frame.
Pazo and freshman Karyn Morgan led the offense in game two with seven and six kills, respectively. The Hornets, though, controlled the net in the frame, posting four of their 12 blocks in game two.
After losing their first game at Autry Court since the 2003 season, the Owls stormed back to take game three. Rice jumped to a 6-1 lead before Sacramento State fought back to trail by two at 14-12. A Dennemann kill then sparked a 6-0 run, and the Owls never looked back. Pazo added another four kills to her total, while Dennemann and sophomore Yvette Kirk each had eight digs in the game.
The Hornets, though, never gave up and after 12 ties in game four ran off six-straight points to take the momentum. With the win, Sacramento State pushed Rice its first fifth game at Autry Court since the finals of the 2003 Crowne Plaza Rice Invitational.
Pazo scored the first point of the decisive game five, but neither team could take the upper hand as they traded the lead five times. With her Owls trailing by one, Pazo posted another kill for the sixth tie of the game, then Rice took advantage of a Hornet mis-hit and never trailed again. Sacramento State twice closed to one at 13-12 and 14-13, but Pazo answered both times with kills to secure the team victory.
In addition to her match-high 24 kills, Pazo added 19 digs. Dennemann recorded 29 digs to tie for the sixth best single match in Rice history, leading six Owls in double-digit digs. Kirk had a career high with her 26 digs. Senior setter Kristina Hoban was a kill away from a triple double, finishing the match with nine kills, 55 assists and 19 digs. She also matched her career best with five blocks.
Joining Pazo on the all-tournament team from Rice were Hoban and Kuykendall. Other members of the all-tournament team were Ali Hausfeld (Duke), Jenny Shull (Duke), Lindsay Haupt (Sacramento State) and Jessica Strama (McNeese State)
In the first match of the day, Duke swept Sacramento State 30-26, 30-22, 30-27 to finish 2-1 in the tournament. Carrie DeMange was solid for the Blue Devils amassing 17 kills and 15 digs, while hitting .467.
Next up for the Owls, Texas Tech comes calling on Tuesday in a 7 pm non-conference match at Autry Court before Rice travels to San Antonio for the UTSA Dome Rally next weekend.
