Sunday, October 28
El Paso, TX
1:00 pm CT
Rice University
19-4, 10-0
3
at
2
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UTEP
4-19, 1-10
1
2
3
4
5
F
Rice
23
19
25
27
15
3
UTEP
25
25
17
25
10
2
Lucky 13! Owls Set Program Record for Consecutive Wins
10/28/2018 4:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice erases 0-2 deficit to defeat Miners in five sets
EL PASO, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team refused to be denied history Sunday afternoon at UTEP's Memorial Gym.
Despite dropping the first two sets, the Owls (19-4, 10-0) dug deep and found a way to win in five sets (23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 27-25, 15-10) to establish a program record with their 13th consecutive victory, breaking the previous mark of 12 in 1995.
Four Owls recorded 10 or more kills, led by sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon's match-high 20 kills. In addition to her offensive success, Lennon added 18 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Tori Woogk (14 kills-.355), junior middle blocker Grace Morgan (13 kills-.407) and senior outside hitter Shelby Livingstone (12 kills/14 digs) also had double-figure kills.
Rice setters Carly Graham (28 assists/11 digs) and Adria Martinez (28 assists/18 digs) combined for 56 assists and 29 digs for their 11th and 8th double-doubles of the season, respectively.
Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected a match-high 29 digs to surpass 1,500 digs (1,515) for her career.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
On the comeback…
"UTEP really played an aggressive and solid match. They attacked us and made us work for every point. We weren't sharp to start, but I honestly couldn't be more proud of how they fought back."
On setting program record for consecutive wins…
"Breaking the streak is a testament to our team's consistency. We have worked hard all year and will continue to work at our craft to improve each and every day. I believe that is what has led to our success so far and needs to continue."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls were unable to recover from a slow start after falling behind 20-13. Rice made a valiant comeback effort, tying the set at 22-22, but UTEP outscored the Owls 3-1 to win 25-23. Rice allowed the Miners to hit a match-high .311 for the set.
Set 2
In set two Rice struggled on the offensive end, hitting just .113 and committing nine attack errors in a 25-19 setback. On the flipside, the Miners hit .239 and had just two errors in the victory. Rice trailed just 18-17 but was outscored 7-2 down the stretch.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in set three and broke open a close set late (18-16) with a 7-1 run to win 25-17. The Owls had their most-efficient offensive performance in this game, hitting .280, while holding the Miners to a .000 hitting rate.
Set 4
The Miners looked primed to snap Rice's streak after taking a 22-17 lead. However, the Owls would have an answer. UTEP held match point, 24-22, but consecutive kills from Lennon and Livingstone knotted things at 24-24. After another Lennon kill and an answer from UTEP, the Owls put the set away with two more kills from Lennon to win 27-25.
Set 5
Rice led throughout in the final frame, jumping out to an 8-4 lead at the turn and hit .273 for the set in a 15-10 victory. Woogk posted three kills in the set and Morgan and Lennon also added two kills apiece to help deliver the Owls' 19th victory of the season.
MATCH NOTES
• The Owls 13-match win streak is a school record, besting the previous mark of 12 established in 1995.
• The Owls' 19-4 record is the second-best 23-match start in program history. Rice was 20-3 through 23 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 10-0 in C-USA play for the first time in school history. There have been four teams to go undefeated in C-USA play since 1995; Louisville (12-0, 1995), Louisville (13-0, 2004), Tulsa (20-0, 2010), and WKU (14-0, 2016)
• The Owls improved to 3-2 in five-set matches this season and won for a second time this year when dropping the first two sets (Marshall, Oct. 12).
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with now a 1.5 game lead over UTSA (and hold tie-breaker).
• The Owls are one win away from their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 17 consecutive matches and has a double-double in nine of her last 10 matches overall. Her 14 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
• Senior Shelby Livingstone recorded her fourth double-double of the year.
• Rice established a season-high with 106 digs.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home this weekend for the final two regular season matches at Tudor Fieldhouse this year. Rice first hosts Charlotte (15-12, 5-6) on Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. before holding Senior Day on Sunday, Nov. 4 versus UAB (13-12, 5-6) at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on CUSAtv. Be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Despite dropping the first two sets, the Owls (19-4, 10-0) dug deep and found a way to win in five sets (23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 27-25, 15-10) to establish a program record with their 13th consecutive victory, breaking the previous mark of 12 in 1995.
Four Owls recorded 10 or more kills, led by sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon's match-high 20 kills. In addition to her offensive success, Lennon added 18 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Tori Woogk (14 kills-.355), junior middle blocker Grace Morgan (13 kills-.407) and senior outside hitter Shelby Livingstone (12 kills/14 digs) also had double-figure kills.
Rice setters Carly Graham (28 assists/11 digs) and Adria Martinez (28 assists/18 digs) combined for 56 assists and 29 digs for their 11th and 8th double-doubles of the season, respectively.
Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected a match-high 29 digs to surpass 1,500 digs (1,515) for her career.
On the comeback…
"UTEP really played an aggressive and solid match. They attacked us and made us work for every point. We weren't sharp to start, but I honestly couldn't be more proud of how they fought back."
On setting program record for consecutive wins…
"Breaking the streak is a testament to our team's consistency. We have worked hard all year and will continue to work at our craft to improve each and every day. I believe that is what has led to our success so far and needs to continue."
Set 1
The Owls were unable to recover from a slow start after falling behind 20-13. Rice made a valiant comeback effort, tying the set at 22-22, but UTEP outscored the Owls 3-1 to win 25-23. Rice allowed the Miners to hit a match-high .311 for the set.
Set 2
In set two Rice struggled on the offensive end, hitting just .113 and committing nine attack errors in a 25-19 setback. On the flipside, the Miners hit .239 and had just two errors in the victory. Rice trailed just 18-17 but was outscored 7-2 down the stretch.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in set three and broke open a close set late (18-16) with a 7-1 run to win 25-17. The Owls had their most-efficient offensive performance in this game, hitting .280, while holding the Miners to a .000 hitting rate.
Set 4
The Miners looked primed to snap Rice's streak after taking a 22-17 lead. However, the Owls would have an answer. UTEP held match point, 24-22, but consecutive kills from Lennon and Livingstone knotted things at 24-24. After another Lennon kill and an answer from UTEP, the Owls put the set away with two more kills from Lennon to win 27-25.
Set 5
Rice led throughout in the final frame, jumping out to an 8-4 lead at the turn and hit .273 for the set in a 15-10 victory. Woogk posted three kills in the set and Morgan and Lennon also added two kills apiece to help deliver the Owls' 19th victory of the season.
• The Owls 13-match win streak is a school record, besting the previous mark of 12 established in 1995.
• The Owls' 19-4 record is the second-best 23-match start in program history. Rice was 20-3 through 23 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 10-0 in C-USA play for the first time in school history. There have been four teams to go undefeated in C-USA play since 1995; Louisville (12-0, 1995), Louisville (13-0, 2004), Tulsa (20-0, 2010), and WKU (14-0, 2016)
• The Owls improved to 3-2 in five-set matches this season and won for a second time this year when dropping the first two sets (Marshall, Oct. 12).
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with now a 1.5 game lead over UTSA (and hold tie-breaker).
• The Owls are one win away from their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 17 consecutive matches and has a double-double in nine of her last 10 matches overall. Her 14 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
• Senior Shelby Livingstone recorded her fourth double-double of the year.
• Rice established a season-high with 106 digs.
The Owls return home this weekend for the final two regular season matches at Tudor Fieldhouse this year. Rice first hosts Charlotte (15-12, 5-6) on Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. before holding Senior Day on Sunday, Nov. 4 versus UAB (13-12, 5-6) at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on CUSAtv. Be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
Kills
70
62
Errors
28
25
Attempts
197
203
Hitting %
.213
.182
Points
86.0
75.0
Assists
67
57
Aces
3
3
Blocks
13.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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