Rice University
Troy
Rice Beats Troy 3-1
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- After a first-game setback, Rice rallied to defeat Troy 24-30, 30-24, 30-26, 30-24 as the Owls finished second at the Nike Gamecock Invitational on Saturday at Columbia, S.C.
Sophomores Jennifer McClean (Cy Fair HS) and Jessie Boulavsky (Clear Brook HS) were both named to the all-tournament team and led the Owls on Saturday with 17 and 11 kills, respectively. McClean also paced Rice with 22 digs for her third-straight double-double. Freshman Caroline Gill (Fairhope, Ala.) led the Owls' front-line defense with nine blocks.
After Rice opened the match with a 3-1 push, Troy rallied with an 8-1 rally to take control of the game. As the Trojans served game point with a 29-19 lead, Gill sparked a late rally with a kill as the Owls fought off five game points. Troy secured the frame with a kill from Kerry Heinz.
Despite the setback, Rice returned to the court in game to with the momentum and slowly built a 10-6 lead. Troy scrapped back to tie the score at 10-all, then the teams began trading blows with neither gaining the upper hand. McClean fired off a kill to knot the score at 17-17 sparking a 7-1 Rice rally. The Owls didn't trail again as they evened the match at one game each.
The action intensified in game three but after eight ties, Rice looked to pull away, building a 22-15 lead. Troy mounted a furious rally, firing off seven-straight points to knot the score. Freshman Meredith Schamun (Murrieta, Calif.) helped the Owls regain control, first by teaming with Gill on a block, then serving for three points including a pair of aces. With the momentum in hand, Rice closed out the frame to take the overall 2-1 lead.
Game four continued in a similar fashion the Trojans answered every Owl rally and finally took a 20-19 lead. Rice sophomore Natalie Bogan (Oakland, Calif.) then picked up her team scoring four kills during a 6-0 run that put her team firmly in control.
McClean finished the tournament leading Rice with 4.08 kills and 4.08 digs per game. Boulavsky hit .400 (33-5-70) in the 12 games of the tournament.
The Owls (5-5) return to Houston next week, opening Conference USA action against the Cougars on Thursday at 7 pm at the UH Athletics/Alumni Center. Rice then faces Wake Forest on Friday and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at the UH Invitational. Both matches are scheduled for 5 pm starts.
