Rice University
SMU
Rice Rally Comes Up Short
11/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2006
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2006 Conference USA Volleyball Championship Bracket
DALLAS -- Despite a big rally from two games down, Rice closed out the 2006 regular season with a 30-26, 30-27, 26-30, 27-30, 15-13 loss to SMU in Conference USA volleyball action on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
Sophomore Jennifer McClean led the Owls' offense with 19 kills, while sophomores Jessica Holderness and Karyn Morgan added 16 each. A quartet of Owls recorded 20-plus digs, led by Junior Yvette Kirk's 27. Holderness had 24, with Morgan adding 23 and McClean 21.
The match marked the 15th time in 30 matches this season that Rice has played to five games.
The determined Mustangs were solid in the first two games, taking a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Owls clawed their way back into the match in the third stanza. Neither team could gain the upper hand as the momentum switched back and forth throughout the game. After nine ties and six lead changes, Rice trailed 22-21 when freshman Natalie Bogan scored a kill to tie, then teamed with Holderness on a block to spark a 4-0 run and put the Owls up for good.
The teams battled through three early ties to open game four, but the Owls took advantage of a SMU service error to break a 4-4 tie and take the lead for good. Rice led by as many as 10 on two occasions in the frame on the strength of a 12-3 run that put the Owls up 26-16. The Mustangs fought back to close to just three at 28-25, but could not turn the corner as the Owls forced a fifth game.
The intensity picked up for both teams in the deciding set as the Owls and the Mustangs battled though nine ties and five lead changes. SMU broke the final 13-13 tie with back-to-back kills from Rachel Giubilato to secure the decision.
Freshman Channing Grigsby recorded her first career double-double with 50 assists and 12 digs in the match. Senior Tessa Kuykendall had a hand in seven of Rice's 11 blocks in the match to go along with her 15 kills.
With the loss, Rice (12-18, 5-11 C-USA) is the No. 10 seed for the C-USA volleyball championship which begins on Thursday at Houston's Hofheinz Pavilion. The Owls first round opponent will be the Cougars (17-14, 8-8), who are seeded 10th. The winner of the 5 pm Thursday match will then face No. 2 seed Marshall (20-10, 12-4) on Friday at 5 pm. Rice and UH split their regular season meetings with the Owls winning at Autry 3-2 and the Cougars winning at the UH Alumni Center 3-1.
