Rice University
Southern Miss
Owls Destroy Southern Miss - Win 3-0
10/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 17, 2008
The Rice Owls volleyball team handily swept the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss to win its fourth straight match by a 3-0 margin. Game scores were 25-16, 25-12, and 25-20. The Owls are now 14-4 overall and 5-2 in Conference USA, while Southern Miss drops to 13-8 and 3-5 in league play.
"I really thought that the team came out focused and determined from the very beginning," commented Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "We were able to handle our first touches throughout the night which in turn kick-started our offense."
The Owls came out roaring in set one by increasing a 6-3 lead to 12-5. Following one of five Natalie Bogan kills, Rice was up 20-10 before clinching set one 25-16. Bogan led all hitters with 5 kills (0 errors) in 8 attacks for a .625 hitting percentage.
Pounding 4 kills apiece were senior Karyn Morgan and freshman Ashleigh McCord. Rice setter Meredith Schamun posted an outstanding 19 assists as Rice hit .318 to USM's .132
Set two was no different as the Owls set the tone early with a 6-4 lead that quickly blossomed to 20-11. Freshman Yuan Lin served out the final four points to give Rice a 25-12 victory. Morgan was strong in set two with 5 kills in 6 attacks (.667 hitting percentage). Schamun also had 14 assists in the second stanza as the Owls hit .583 (16-2-24) to USM's -.133 (5-9-30).
It was 15-15 in set three before the Owls took over and went on a 5-2 run to forge a 20-17 lead that they not relinquished. In winning 25-20, Rice was led by McCord's 5 kills in outhitting the Golden Eagles .286 (15-5-35) to .000 (9-9-35).
"Karyn Morgan and Ashleigh McCord were phenomenal tonight," said Volpe. "But, it was a total team effort that contributed to tonight's victory."
For the match, Morgan led Rice and all hitters with a double-double consisting of 13 kills and 14 digs. Bogan had 8 kills in 11 attacks for a match-high .727 attack percentage, while McCord totaled 12 kills. Senior Jessica Holderness had 9 kills on the evening, while Caroline Gill had 7 kills and Ekaette Shammah led Rice with 3 blocks.
Schamun, in directing the offense, had 41 assists, while sophomore Tracey Lam dug up 17 digs in stifling the USM offense. Rice out-attacked Southern Miss on the night .369 to .010. The Owls' Jennifer McClean had the only ace of the night between the two squad.
On Saturday night Rice hosts UCF (13-8, 5-3), who lost 3-2 to Houston on Friday, at Fox Gymnasium. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.
