Rice University
Montana State
Rice Falls In Five To Montana State
9/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2006
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Rice's late rally came up just short as the Owls fell 30-28, 30-21, 17-30, 26-30, 15-10 to Montana State on Friday in their opening match at the Four Points Sheraton Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
Senior Tessa Kuykendall paced the Owls with 19 kills. Sophomore Karyn Morgan was next offensively with 17 kills and added a team best 18 digs.
In game one, neither team could grab the momentum as the Owls and the Bobcats traded points for eight ties in the early going. Montana State broke an 8-8 score with a 3-0 run, then pulled ahead for a 17-12 advantage. Rice rallied back with a 5-0 run to knot the score at 17, but the Owls couldn't turn the corner. The Bobcats regained the lead, then fended off another Rice rally to take the game.
The Bobcats carried their momentum into the second game, jumping out to quick lead. Montana State never trailed in the frame and took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Rice came on strong in game three, opening with a 6-1 run. Montana State closed to within three, but could get no closer as the Owls dominated. The Owls held the Bobcats to -.091 hitting in the 13 point win to send the match to a fourth game.
Montana State looked to regain control of the match and pulled ahead 5-1 to start. After the Bobcats twice built five-point leads, the Owls rallied to tie things up at 12-all. Three ties later and Morgan and junior Rachel Lopez scored back-to-back kills to give Rice its first lead of the game at 17-15. The teams battled to three more ties, the last at 25-25, before Kuykendall posted a pair of kills to spark a 5-1 rally to secure the frame.
In the decisive fifth game, the Owls were dominant to start scoring the first four points, including a pair of blocks from Kuykendall and freshman Jennifer McClean. The Bobcats, though, stormed back with a 7-1 to seize the momentum and went on to take the match.
"Our team continues to show that we have the ability to battle back when we're down," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "We have to come out stronger, take care of the ball and execute from the beginning of the match -- that was the difference between a win and a loss today. We're going to learn from this. We look forward to getting back on the court tomorrow and proving ourselves."
Five Owls posted double-figure digs in the match. In addition to Morgan's 18, McClean had 17, junior Yvette Kirk had 14, Lopez had 12 and freshman Jessie Boulavsky recorded 10. Kuykendall also posted seven blocks as Rice held the defensive edge at the net, out-blocking Montana State 10-8.
Tournament action concludes on Saturday as Rice faces Bradley at 12 pm (CDT) and No. 21 Arizona at 9 pm (CDT).
