Friday, October 26
San Antonio, TX
7:00 pm CT
Rice University
-184, 90 CUSA
3
at
0
UTSA
-166, 82 CUSA
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
27
25
3
UTSA
13
25
21
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Volleyball Ties School Record with 12th Straight Win
10/26/2018 10:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sweep UTSA to remain first in C-USA
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team recorded their third straight sweep and grabbed a piece of history in the process, tying the program record with their 12th consecutive victory in a pivotal road triumph (25-13, 27-25, 25-21) at second-place UTSA.
Rice (18-4, 9-0) tied the 1995 Owls' team with their 12th straight win and haven't lost a match since their Sept. 11 setback at Stephen F. Austin (who have won 21 straight).
On Friday the Owls outhit the Roadrunners (16-6, 8-2) by a .194-.084 margin and established a three-set season-high with 13.0 team blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players in kills (13) and digs (15) for her team-leading 13th double-double of the season while junior middle blocker Grace Morgan added an additional 10 kills while hitting .333.
Freshman setter Carly Graham picked up her 10th double-double of the year with 19 assists and 10 digs while freshman Anota Adekunle and junior Tori Woogk each recorded seven blocks.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
"I was very proud of our team's composure tonight. We were tested numerous times by UTSA. The sweep was hard-earned, that's for sure. Both teams played extremely hard and there were some great rallies. Our block made the difference towards the end, and that was great to see since we worked hard on it all week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls led start-to-finish in a dominating 25-13 victory in the opening frame. Rice hit a blistering .324 as a team in the win, committing just three errors on 34 attacks. Morgan led the Owls with four kills in the set and Rice never looked back after taking an 8-3 lead.
Set 2
In set two the Owls had to stave off a late UTSA comeback. Rice had a 23-19 advantage before the Roadrunners went on a 6-1 run and held set point at 25-24. However, the Owls took advantage of a UTSA setting error, followed by an attack error to put Rice back in front 26-25. The Owls then sealed the 27-25 victory with an ace from Lennon.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in the final stanza despite five ties in a 25-21 victory. The Roadrunners closed to within 22-21 but the Owls used a 3-0 run with blocks from Morgan and Woogk to complete the sweep.
MATCH NOTES
• The Owls 12-match win streak tied the longest in school history, originally set in 1995.
• Rice clinched a spot in the C-USA Tournament with the victory, which will run Nov. 16-18 in Huntington, WV (hosted by Marshall).
• The Owls 18-4 record is the second-best 22 match start in program history. Rice was 19-3 through 22 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 9-0 in C-USA play for the first time in school history. The last time the Owls started at least 5-0 in conference play they were members of the WAC in 2004 (started 7-0, finished 12-1).
• The Owls swept an opponent for a third straight match and ninth time overall this season. Rice is now 27-6 in sets during league play.
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with now a 1.5 game lead over UTSA.
• The Owls are two wins away from their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 16 consecutive matches and has a double-double in eight of her last nine matches overall. Her 13 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
• Graham notched her 10th double-double of the season and fifth during league play.
• Rice's 13.0 team blocks were the most by the Owls in a three-set match this season.
UP NEXT
The Owls will try and establish a new school record with a 13th straight victory on Sunday when they travel to UTEP (4-18, 1-9). First serve is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on CUSAtv. Be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (18-4, 9-0) tied the 1995 Owls' team with their 12th straight win and haven't lost a match since their Sept. 11 setback at Stephen F. Austin (who have won 21 straight).
On Friday the Owls outhit the Roadrunners (16-6, 8-2) by a .194-.084 margin and established a three-set season-high with 13.0 team blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players in kills (13) and digs (15) for her team-leading 13th double-double of the season while junior middle blocker Grace Morgan added an additional 10 kills while hitting .333.
Freshman setter Carly Graham picked up her 10th double-double of the year with 19 assists and 10 digs while freshman Anota Adekunle and junior Tori Woogk each recorded seven blocks.
"I was very proud of our team's composure tonight. We were tested numerous times by UTSA. The sweep was hard-earned, that's for sure. Both teams played extremely hard and there were some great rallies. Our block made the difference towards the end, and that was great to see since we worked hard on it all week."
Set 1
The Owls led start-to-finish in a dominating 25-13 victory in the opening frame. Rice hit a blistering .324 as a team in the win, committing just three errors on 34 attacks. Morgan led the Owls with four kills in the set and Rice never looked back after taking an 8-3 lead.
Set 2
In set two the Owls had to stave off a late UTSA comeback. Rice had a 23-19 advantage before the Roadrunners went on a 6-1 run and held set point at 25-24. However, the Owls took advantage of a UTSA setting error, followed by an attack error to put Rice back in front 26-25. The Owls then sealed the 27-25 victory with an ace from Lennon.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in the final stanza despite five ties in a 25-21 victory. The Roadrunners closed to within 22-21 but the Owls used a 3-0 run with blocks from Morgan and Woogk to complete the sweep.
• The Owls 12-match win streak tied the longest in school history, originally set in 1995.
• Rice clinched a spot in the C-USA Tournament with the victory, which will run Nov. 16-18 in Huntington, WV (hosted by Marshall).
• The Owls 18-4 record is the second-best 22 match start in program history. Rice was 19-3 through 22 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 9-0 in C-USA play for the first time in school history. The last time the Owls started at least 5-0 in conference play they were members of the WAC in 2004 (started 7-0, finished 12-1).
• The Owls swept an opponent for a third straight match and ninth time overall this season. Rice is now 27-6 in sets during league play.
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with now a 1.5 game lead over UTSA.
• The Owls are two wins away from their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 16 consecutive matches and has a double-double in eight of her last nine matches overall. Her 13 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
• Graham notched her 10th double-double of the season and fifth during league play.
• Rice's 13.0 team blocks were the most by the Owls in a three-set match this season.
The Owls will try and establish a new school record with a 13th straight victory on Sunday when they travel to UTEP (4-18, 1-9). First serve is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on CUSAtv. Be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
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Team Stats
RICE
UTSA
Kills
38
37
Errors
14
25
Attempts
124
143
Hitting %
.194
.084
Points
56.0
45.0
Assists
37
36
Aces
5
4
Blocks
13.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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