Rice University
Tulsa
Tulsa Slips Past Rice 3-2
10/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2006
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HOUSTON -- Senior Tessa Kuykendall became Rice's all-time blocking leader and led the Owls with 18 kills in her final home appearance, but it wasn't enough as league-leading Tulsa out-lasted Rice for a 29-31, 30-25, 25-30, 30-24, 15-7 decision in Conference USA volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at Autry Court.
Kuykendall scored a pair of blocks at the end of the first frame, including the game winner to tie the all-time record of 520, held by Briana Cook (1999-2002). She finished the match with five blocks to bring her career total to 523.
Freshman Jennifer McClean also had 18 kills in the match, while sophomore Karyn Morgan and freshman Natalie Bogan both added 14. Morgan also recorded a career-high 30 digs to lead the defense. Bogan and junior Rachel Lopez both had six blocks, with the tally a career best for Lopez.
The Owls found themselves in a big hole to start the match as the Golden Hurricane built a commanding 20-9 lead. The teams then traded points, and Rice whittled the margin to nine at 25-16, when Bogan connected on a kill and took over the match. The point sparked a 10-1 Rice run the included a pair of blocks from Bogan with Lopez, a second Bogan kill, and closed on back-to-back aces from the freshman to tie the game at 26-all.
Tulsa scored the next two to regain the lead but momentum was now on the side of Rice. The Owls tied it again at 28 then fought off game point with a kill from Kuykendall. McClean connected for a kill to put Rice up 30-29, then Kuykendall teamed with freshman Jessie Boulavsky for the second time in the final push for a huge block to give Rice the 1-0 lead. Bogan finished the frame with seven kills on .600 hitting.
The Owls scored the first three to open the second stanza, but the Hurricane stayed close, and put together a 5-0 run to take an 11-9 advantage. The teams began trading points and after five more ties, Tulsa took the lead for good to tie the match score at 1-1.
Neither team could gain the upper hand to start game three as Rice and Tulsa battled through seven ties and three lead changes. The Owls finally took the lead for good on a Hurricane mis-hit and a block from Kuykendall and Lopez.
Rice jumped out early in game four, taking a quick 5-1 lead. Tulsa answered back to knot the score at 6-6, the first of seven ties before the Hurricane broke a 13-13 knot to take the lead for good. The Owls stayed in it, closing the margin to 24-22, but Tulsa had a 6-2 run to take the frame.
After trading kills to open the deciding game, Tulsa launched an 8-1 run to take control of the frame and the match.
The match marked the 13th time for Rice (12-15, 5-8 C-USA) to play to five games this season. The Owls close out the regular season with three matches on the road. First up is a trip across town to face Houston at the UH Alumni Center on Thursday at 7 pm. The regular season ends with trips to Tulsa (Nov. 10) and SMU (Nov. 12).
