Rice University
Memphis
Rice Falters at Memphis
10/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2007
MEMPHIS -- The Rice volleyball team faltered on the road, falling 30-21, 30-23, 30-28 at Memphis in Conference USA action on Friday night.
With her teammates struggling offensively, sophomore Natalie Bogan (Oakland, Calif.) was solid with a match best 12 kills while hitting .381 on the night. As a team, the Owls were held to .020 hitting for the match.
The teams waged a close battle to open the match. After three early ties, the Tigers pulled ahead 8-5, but the Owls responded with a 5-0 run highlighted by a pair of aces from junior Jessica Holderness (Sycamore, Ill.). Memphis rebounded and after three more ties, took the lead for good.
The Tigers held on to the momentum in game two, scoring the first two points and pulling away to take the frame.
Memphis continued to hold strong in game three, taking an early 5-2 advantage. Rice fought back, though, and after three ties, enjoyed a 6-0 run to go up 21-16. The Tigers clawed back to knot the score at 22. Four ties later, Memphis took the lead for good. The Owls fended off a pair of match points, but it wasn't enough.
Shelby Burton led the Tigers with 12 kills. Defensively, Rebekah Strickland had seven blocks, and Christine Bach had 12 digs.
The Owls (9-12, 4-5 C-USA) continue their road swing on Sunday, traveling to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB at 1 pm.
