Rice University
UCF
Owls Tarnish the UCF Knights - Win 3-0
10/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2008
The Rice Owls volleyball squad won its fifth-straight match by a 3-0 score this time defeating the UCF Knights before a raucous crowd in Fox Gymnasium, much of it provided by Hoffman Middle School from the Aldine Independent School District. Game scores were 25-14, 25-16, and 25-12. The Owls are now 15-4 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA play, while UCF is now 13-9 and 5-4 in league action.
"This match was probably the most solid and all-around performance that we've had this season," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "The team executed the game plan, they were focus and really played with determination to try and score on every ball.
The best thing about this team is that it does not rely on one person, it truly is a team effort.
Rice took control of set one early with a 6-3 lead that became 11-5 following a tandem block by Karyn Morgan and Natalie Bogan. It was 19-11 before the Owls closed it out on a 6-3 run to win 25-14.
Morgan was sensational in the first set with 5 kills (0 errors) in 7 attacks for a .714 attack percentage. Rice was also strong defensively with 4 team blocks, three of which were provided by Bogan.
The Owls outhit the Knights .379 to .031 with 14 kills to UCF's 9.
Set two was much like set one with the Owls again taking control early. It was 18-13, but three UCF hitting errors and a ball handling error gave Rice a 22-13 lead. Ashleigh McCord then pounded three of her five kills in set two into the hardwood for Rice's final three points.
The Owls had 19 digs to UCF's 11 in set and was led by sophomore Tracey Lam's 7 digs. Rice had 15 kills with Meredith Schamun assisting on 12 of them.
In set three, the Owls never let up off of the throttle to win 25-12. McCord the Owl attack in set three with 6 kills as Rice hit a phenomenal .364 with 15 kills, only 3 errors, in 33 attacks
McCord led all hitters with 16 kills and an unbelievable .520 hitting percentage. Morgan meanwhile rack up another double-double with 11kills and 10 digs. She hit .455 on the night with only one error in 22 attacks.
Meredith Schamun did a nice job directing the Owl attack with 33 assists and Tracey Lam was her usual spectacular self on defense with 13 digs.
For the match, Rice had 44 kills and a .310 hitting percentage, while UCF hit .037 with 25 kills. The Owls also had 7 blocks on the evening.
"I thought our serving and blocking were key tonight in slowing down UCF's attack," commented Volpe.
Rice now hosts Houston on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Fox Gymnasium. Admission is free.
