Rice University
Tulane
Owls Lose 3-1 at Tulane
9/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 28, 2008
New Orleans, La. - The Rice Owls volleyball saw its four-match winning streak come to an end with a tight 3-1 loss at Tulane on Sunday afternoon at Fogelman Arena. Game scores were 25-21, 18-25, 21-25, and 24-26. Rice is now 9-3 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA play, while Tulane improves to 11-3 and 2-0 in C-USA.
Rice won set one by breaking a 6-6 tie to take a 17-11 lead. Tulane came back to to within four at 22-18. The Owls outhit the Green Wave .250 to .194.
Set two saw the Owls with a 13-11 lead before Tulane, on the strength of three team blocks, forge a 20-14 margin. Tulane would have 6 blocks in set two in winning 25-18, despite the fact that it was outhit by Rice 14 kills to 9.
Tulane finished the match with 14 blocks to Rice's 8.
"Tulane did a good job blocking today," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "But, we gave them some easy points and if we would have only taken care of the ball then that would've made a difference in the match."
Tulane came from behind in set three to win 25-21. The Owls were ahead 14-10 following a team block, but the Green Wave eventually tied it up at 20-20. Rice's Karyn Morgan tied it up at 21-all with a kill, but Tulane tallied the final four points.
The Owls were up 18-15 in set four and poised to play their first five-set match of the season, but Tulane roared back to take a 20-19 lead. A Caroline Gill kill gave Rice a 22-20 lead and another Gill kill put the Owls ahead 23-21. At 24-24, Tulane got a kill and block to win its second C-USA match of the season.
Rice was paced by freshman Ashleigh McCord's career-high 16 kills and .696 attack percentage (16-0-23). Also reaching double-digits in kills were Natalie Bogan with 12 and Karyn Morgan with 15.
"Ashleigh (McCord) has struggled the last couple of matches, but she is a competitor and really turned it around today vs. Tulane," said Volpe. "I thought our serving was strong, but we just need to take of the little things especially against a veteran team like Tulane."
Rice setter Meredith Schamun registered 54 assists and Tracey Lam led all with 22 digs.
Sara Radosevic led Tulane with 17 kills and a .295 hitting percentage.
The Owls next weekend host SMU on Friday at 7 p.m. and Tulsa on Sunday at 1 p.m.
