Rice University
SMU
RICE BEATS SMU 3-1 IN VOLLEYBALL
11/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 2, 2008
Dallas - The Rice Owls volleyball team won its third-straight match with a 3-1 road win at SMU in Moody Coliseum. Game scores were 25-18, 25-20, 23-25, and 25-20. The Owls are now 19-5 on the year and 10-3 in Conference USA play, while the Mustangs are 13-14, and 5-8 in league action. It was also Rice's third-consecutive win over SMU.
Ashleigh McCord knocked the stuffing out the ball eight times in set one to lead the Owls to a 25-18 win. McCord also hit .462. The Owls started strong with an early 4-2 lead that they increased to 16-10 and never looked back. Seniors Karyn Morgan and Jessica Holderness each had 4 kills in set one as the Owls posted 19 kills to SMU's 9. Rice also outhit the Mustangs .273 to .171. Rice setter Meredith Schamun posted 13 assists
The Owls were only up by two points at 10-8 before taking control of the set late at 22-16 and winning 25-20. Holderness led the Rice attack with 7 kills and McCord added three more to her total as Schamun tallied an outstanding 16 assists. Rice hit .300 with 18 kills, while SMU could only muster 10 kills and a .176 attack percentage.
After two sets, the Owls totaled 37 kills to SMU's 19 and a .286 hitting percentage to the Mustangs' .173.
SMU did not wilt under the Rice onslaught by taking charge of the third set. SMU was ahead 15-10, before the Owls went on a 9-4 run to tie it at 19. A Bogan kill brought Rice to within one at 23-22 before the Mustangs tallied the final two points to win 25-22 and force a fourth set. SMU totaled 19 kills to Rice's 14.
Rice took an early 8-4 lead in set four en route to winning 25-20 as Holderness provided the winning point on her match-high 19th kill. Holderness (17 digs) also hit a match-high .391. Also with 19 kills was Karyn Morgan (18 digs) and Ashleigh McCord provided 17 kills.
Schamun had 59 assists and 13 digs and Owl libero Tracey Lam led all defenders with 23 digs.
The Owls on the day posted 71 kills and a .290 hitting percentage. SMU, meanwhile, had 51 kills and a .208 attack percentage.
The Owls now host Conference USA-leading UAB on Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday vs. Memphis at 1 p.m. Action takes place in Fox Gymnasium.
