VB Owls Host Houston
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 21, 2008
The Rice Owls volleyball team (15-4, 6-2) hosts Conference USA rival Houston Cougars (13-8, 5-3) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Fox Gymnasium. Admission is free.
Recently
Rice last weekend had two 3-0 sweeps with home victories over Southern Miss and UCF. Freshman Ashleigh McCord led Rice with 28 kills and a .380 hitting percentage, while Karyn Morgan pounded 24 kills with a .391 hitting percentage.
Head Coach
Rice head coach Genny Volpe sports a school and overall coaching mark of 82-57 (5 years). She led the Owls to their first-ever NCAA appearance in 2004.
National Ranks
Rice setter Meredith Schamun ranks first in C-USA and 10th nationally in assists per set in this week's NCAA rankings. The sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., averages a C-USA-best 11.56 per set.
Sophomore libéro Tracey Lam ranks 21st in the nation in digs per set, accounting for a C-USA-best 5.0 per outing with 330 digs.
As a team, Rice ranks fifth in the NCAA in assists (13.52), seventh in kills (14.52), 17th in digs (16.82) and 24th in hitting efficiency (.263).
100 Owls
Four Rice Owls have accumulated 100 or more kills. Senior Karyn Morgan leads at 216, while Jessica Holderness follows at 178 and Natalie Bogan is at 1173. Freshman Ashleigh McCord has pounded 175 kills.
Attack Pct.
Natalie Bogan leads Rice with a .360 attack percentage (173-36-381) and sophomore Caroline Gill is at .350 (90-15-214). Ashleigh McCord is at .301 with 175 kills and 64 errors in 369 attacks.
Streakin'
Tracey Lam has now reached double-digit digs in each of her last 28 matches. That total ranks seventh in the nation among active players and is second-highest among sophomores in the country.
Opponents
Houston leads the series vs. Rice, 56-13 after splitting in each of the last three seasons.
Looking Forward
The Owls host Tulane on Friday (Oct. 24) at 7 p.m. and UTEP on Sunday (Oct. 26) at 1 p.m.
The UTEP match is designated as "Dig for the Cure," benefiting the Houston affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness.
Individuals and businesses may pledge to donate a certain amount of money per dig made by the Rice Owls in the match, or they can give a flat donation. Donation cards will be available at the door of the match, as well as in locations throughout Rice Village. Also, pink Rice Volleyball t-shirts will be on sale at the match, with all proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen.
For more information, contact Rice athletics marketing at 713-348-6923.
