Rice University
Tulane
Tulane Beats Rice 3-0 in Volleyball
10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 4, 2009
Houston - Visnja Djurdjevic had a match-high 18 kills and 14 digs to lead Tulane past Rice 3-0 in a Conference USA volleyball match at Tudor Fieldhouse. Game scores were 26-24, 25-23, and 29-27. Rice drops to 11-4 and 3-1 in C-USA, while the Green Wave improved to 9-5 and 4-1 in C-USA. The Owls were led by Natalie Bogan's 14 kills and match-high .379 attack percentage.
"Tulane was the more consistent team today," commented Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "With each set being a two-point difference it was clear that the match could have been won by either team, but Tulane took care of the `little things' that determine a tightly played match. For example, we had four net errors, while they (Tulane) did not have any. We are also typically balanced offensively, but today we were not."
The Green Wave took control early in set one forging an 8-4 lead and it was 9-7 before the set was delayed for 12 minutes due to the Tudor Fieldhouse lights going out. Afterwards, the Owls were able to tie the set at 23-23 and it was 24-24 before Tulane scored the set's final two points.
The set featured both teams hitting at a high percentage. Tulane had 19 kills and a .326 hitting percentage, while the Owls posted 18 kills and a .295 hitting percentage. Rice's Natalie Bogan led all hitters in set one with 7 kills and a .636 attack percentage (7-0-11). Visnja Djurdjevic had 6 kills for the Green Wave.
The score was tied at 10-10 before Tulane outscored Rice 9 to 5 for a 19-15 margin. After two Tulane miscues, the Owls were only down by two at 22-20. The Owls cut the deficit to 24-23 after a combo block by Bogan and Jenn McClean, but, the Green Wave scored the set's final point on a kill by Djurdjevic.
The hitting percentage cooled considerably in set two as Tulane hit .159 with 15 kills, and the Owls mustered a .119 attack percentage with 12 kills.
After being behind for most of set three, which included a 14-9 margin, the Owls rallied to take a 23-20 lead with some inspired play. Tulane then countered with four straight points before a McClean kill tied it at 24-24 and another McClean kill put the Owls ahead 25-24. It would see-saw until the Green Wave was able to secure the final two points to win 29-27.
McClean had a set-three high 8 kills, while Djurdjevic led Tulane with 7 kills.
For the match, Rice hit .205 with 48 kills to Tulane's .248 and 50 kills. Besides Bogan, Rice was led by McClean's 13 kills and Ashleigh McCord posted 11 kills. McClean also had a match-high 16 digs.
Rice now prepares for Wednesday's match at Houston.
