Rice University
UAB
Rice Drops C-USA Opener At UAB
9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 23, 2006
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Rice volleyball team lost at UAB 30-22, 28-30, 15-30, 30-22, 15-9 in the Owls' Conference USA opener on Friday night at Birmingham, Ala.
Senior Tessa Kuykendall had a season high 20 kills, one off her career best, to lead the Rice offense. Junior Yvette Kirk also had a season high against the Blazers, recording 23 digs.
The match marked the seventh time in 10 outings that the Owls have gone five games.
The Blazers opened game one with a tough serve to jump out to a 4-0 lead, then slowly pulled away to take the frame.
UAB continued to hold the momentum to open the second game, building a five-point lead. Rice scratched back for five ties before finally surging ahead for a 24-21 lead. The Owls were leading 28-24 when the Blazers rallied back to tie the score at 28-all. Rice held on to take the frame and knot the score.
The Rice middles stepped up offensively in the game as freshman Natalie Bogan recorded six kills and Kuykendall added four.
The Owls came out strong in game three, taking a quick 6-1 lead. The Blazers scored a pair to close to three, but Rice responded with another 6-1 run to take complete control of the game. The Owls dominated the frame, hitting .370 while holding UAB to -.033.
The action evened out in game four as the teams battled to eight ties, the last at 11-11, before UAB put together an 8-1 run to grab the momentum, and the lead, for good.
Rice and UAB traded blows again to open the decisive fifth game, tying five times before the Owls surged ahead 8-5. But the Blazers were ready to defend their home court as they mounted a furious 8-0 rally to regain control of the match and take the win.
Bogan was the only other Rice hitter to post double-digit kills, finishing the match with 11. Bogan also had a hand in four of the Owls' eight blocks.
On Sunday the Owls return to Autry Court for the first time since Sept. 6 to host Memphis at 1 pm in C-USA action.
