Friday, November 2
Houston, TX
6:00 pm CT
Rice University
20-4, 11-0
3
vs
0
Charlotte
15-13, 5-7
1
2
3
F
Charlotte
19
20
17
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Volleyball Earns Win No. 20, 14th Straight
11/2/2018 8:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice sweeps Charlotte to remain unbeaten in C-USA play
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls volleyball team recorded their 20th win of the season, and 14th straight overall, with a 3-0 sweep over the Charlotte 49ers Friday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Rice (20-4, 11-0) notched their 10th sweep of the season by limiting the 49ers (15-13, 5-7) to a .049 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon locked up her 15th double-double of the season with a match-high 18 kills and 11 digs, all while hitting .469.
Lennon was one of three players with 10 or more digs, to go along with Lee Ann Cunningham's match-high 14 digs and 11 from Shelby Livingstone.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
On winning a 14th straight match…
"I think in the first set Charlotte really showed they're one of the best blocking teams in the conference. They came out and did a really nice job setting the tone with their block. It took a little while to get our offense going but our defense was there and did a consistent job from start to finish. It was nice to see our offense pick up slowly because after the second set we weren't hitting for a high percentage. But it was good to see us turn it around."
On finding an offensive rhythm late…
"I think it was us just trusting that we were going to get there. We had to keep swinging and working our first touch to make it easier for the setters. We're going to have to have a stronger start the next time we step on the court. But I'm very pleased with the composure and trust we showed tonight. The setters had trust in our attackers, and vice versa, and it came around in that third set."
On the team's confidence during the win streak…
"Winning obviously does create a sense of confidence. Yes this team is confident, but they're also well aware when we need to pick things up and today was one of those days, recognizing our offense needed to pick up. We're in a pretty good place right now and they're focused on what has to happen next. We've got to be ready for adjustments because each team that we play the rest of the season has a really significant strength. We didn't battle Charlotte's strength of their block early quite well, but I think that our confidence led to the composure, which led to the execution."
On Senior Day on Sunday…
"We're very excited for Senior Day to get out there and celebrate Shelby (Livingstone) and McKay (Kyle) and all they've done for our program. I know the team is going to rally around them. This is a very special team and so are those two players. So we've got to keep our emotions in check and get execute at a high level and hopefully get the result we want."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Charlotte held a lead late in the opening frame at 17-16 but the Owls flipped a switch and outscored the 49ers 9-2 the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory. Lennon paced the Owls offense with seven kills while the Rice defense held Charlotte to a .000 hitting percentage.
Set 2
The Owls found themselves in another late battle with the 49ers but closed on a 4-0 run to win 25-20. Rice hit just .105 for the set but 6.0 team blocks and 10 Charlotte attack errors helped secure the victory.
Set 3
Rice came out of the break on a mission, hitting .425 for the set behind nine kills from Lennon in a 25-17 victory. The Owls recorded 22 kills in the set and allowed just seven. Freshman setter Carly Graham notched 10 of her match-high 22 assists in the set.
MATCH NOTES
• The Owls 14-match win streak is a school record, besting the previous mark of 12 established in 1995.
• The Owls' 20-4 record is the second-best 24-match start in program history. Rice was 21-3 through 24 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 11-0 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 recorded their 10th sweep of the season. Rice has won nine consecutive sets at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with a 2.0 game lead over FAU. The Owls magic number to clinch the C-USA regular season title is two.
• The Owls recorded their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 18 consecutive matches and has a double-double in 10 of her last 11 matches overall. Her 15 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
UP NEXT
The Owls wrap up their home portion of their schedule on Sunday, Nov. 4 when they host UAB at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. Prior to the match, McKay Kyle and Shelby Livingstone will be honored for Senior Day. For ticket information, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (20-4, 11-0) notched their 10th sweep of the season by limiting the 49ers (15-13, 5-7) to a .049 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon locked up her 15th double-double of the season with a match-high 18 kills and 11 digs, all while hitting .469.
Lennon was one of three players with 10 or more digs, to go along with Lee Ann Cunningham's match-high 14 digs and 11 from Shelby Livingstone.
On winning a 14th straight match…
"I think in the first set Charlotte really showed they're one of the best blocking teams in the conference. They came out and did a really nice job setting the tone with their block. It took a little while to get our offense going but our defense was there and did a consistent job from start to finish. It was nice to see our offense pick up slowly because after the second set we weren't hitting for a high percentage. But it was good to see us turn it around."
On finding an offensive rhythm late…
"I think it was us just trusting that we were going to get there. We had to keep swinging and working our first touch to make it easier for the setters. We're going to have to have a stronger start the next time we step on the court. But I'm very pleased with the composure and trust we showed tonight. The setters had trust in our attackers, and vice versa, and it came around in that third set."
On the team's confidence during the win streak…
"Winning obviously does create a sense of confidence. Yes this team is confident, but they're also well aware when we need to pick things up and today was one of those days, recognizing our offense needed to pick up. We're in a pretty good place right now and they're focused on what has to happen next. We've got to be ready for adjustments because each team that we play the rest of the season has a really significant strength. We didn't battle Charlotte's strength of their block early quite well, but I think that our confidence led to the composure, which led to the execution."
On Senior Day on Sunday…
"We're very excited for Senior Day to get out there and celebrate Shelby (Livingstone) and McKay (Kyle) and all they've done for our program. I know the team is going to rally around them. This is a very special team and so are those two players. So we've got to keep our emotions in check and get execute at a high level and hopefully get the result we want."
Set 1
Charlotte held a lead late in the opening frame at 17-16 but the Owls flipped a switch and outscored the 49ers 9-2 the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory. Lennon paced the Owls offense with seven kills while the Rice defense held Charlotte to a .000 hitting percentage.
Set 2
The Owls found themselves in another late battle with the 49ers but closed on a 4-0 run to win 25-20. Rice hit just .105 for the set but 6.0 team blocks and 10 Charlotte attack errors helped secure the victory.
Set 3
Rice came out of the break on a mission, hitting .425 for the set behind nine kills from Lennon in a 25-17 victory. The Owls recorded 22 kills in the set and allowed just seven. Freshman setter Carly Graham notched 10 of her match-high 22 assists in the set.
• The Owls 14-match win streak is a school record, besting the previous mark of 12 established in 1995.
• The Owls' 20-4 record is the second-best 24-match start in program history. Rice was 21-3 through 24 matches in 2004.
• Rice is 11-0 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 recorded their 10th sweep of the season. Rice has won nine consecutive sets at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• Rice remains alone in first place in the C-USA standings with a 2.0 game lead over FAU. The Owls magic number to clinch the C-USA regular season title is two.
• The Owls recorded their fifth consecutive 20-win season and ninth overall under head coach Genny Volpe.
• Lennon has registered 10 or more kills in 18 consecutive matches and has a double-double in 10 of her last 11 matches overall. Her 15 double-doubles this season leads the Owls.
The Owls wrap up their home portion of their schedule on Sunday, Nov. 4 when they host UAB at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. Prior to the match, McKay Kyle and Shelby Livingstone will be honored for Senior Day. For ticket information, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceVolleyball on Twitter for more information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
CHA
RICE
Kills
24
48
Errors
19
21
Attempts
103
117
Hitting %
.049
.231
Points
34.0
60.0
Assists
21
44
Aces
2
4
Blocks
8.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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