Rice University
Marshall
Marshall Holds Off Rice
10/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2006
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- The Rice volleyball team, playing its fourth consecutive road match, lost a close battle at Marshall, 33-31, 30-27, 30-24 on Sunday afternoon in Conference USA competition in Huntington, W.Va.
Freshman Natalie Bogan led the Owls with 14 kills and a .367 hitting percentage in the match. Sophomore Karyn Morgan was next offensively with 10 kills, while junior Yvette Kirk recorded 16 digs to lead the defense.
Game one was a closely contested bout that featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Bogan scored the first two kills of the frame for Rice as the Owls slowly took a 16-13 lead. The Thundering Herd put together a 6-1 run to retake the lead. The Owls kept fighting and after trading blows with the Herd, Rice took a brief 25-24 lead. Marshall responded with a 5-2 run to reach game point. The Owls kept battling, fending off four game points before consecutive Marshall kills gave the Herd the frame.
Morgan had six kills in the game as the Owls combined to hit .396.
The Rice offense struggled in the early going of game two as after five early ties, Marshall built an 18-10 lead. The Owls slowly began to chip away at the margin and closed to 28-26 with a 6-1 run. It wasn't enough, though, as the Herd held on to take the game and the 2-0 lead.
The Owls came out strong in game three, jumping to a 10-4 advantage and holding six-point leads three times in the early going. The Herd fired back with an 8-1 lead to take a brief lead at 14-13. Rice answered with three-straight points, then the teams began trading blows again. After two more ties, Marshall took the lead for good and built a 25-21 margin. Rice twice closed to two points, but Marshall once again held strong for the win.
Rice returns to Houston next weekend for the team's final two matches at Autry Court in 2006. The Owls host long time rival SMU on Friday at 7 pm, then close out their home stand with C-USA leader Tulsa on Sunday at 1 pm.
