Saturday, September 1
Houston, TX
11:00 am CT
Rice University
4-1
3
vs
0
Liberty
2-4
1
2
3
F
Liberty
18
20
22
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Cruise in Straight Sets Over Liberty
9/1/2018 1:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice hosts HBU Saturday at 7 p.m.
By Kenny Bybee (kab10@rice.edu)
HOUSTON – Behind a stingy defensive performance, the Rice Owls (4-1) volleyball team swept the Liberty Lady Flames (2-4) in straight sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) Saturday morning in the second of three matches at the Rice Adidas Invitational I.
The Owls limited Liberty to just a .164 hitting percentage and took advantage of 17 Lady Flame errors. Rice will now have an opportunity to win the Rice Adidas Invitational I outright this evening at 7 p.m. when they host Houston Baptist.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
"This was a good, solid win for us. We really wanted to close it out in three sets. Our defense really picked up from last night and carried us to victory. Now we get a quick rest and are back at it tonight versus Houston Baptist."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls used a balanced scoring attack with seven different players registering at least one kill en route to a 25-18 victory. Junior middle blocker Grace Morgan, sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon, freshman middle blocker Anota Adekunle, and senior outside hitter Shelby Livingstone all had three kills apiece. Rice never trailed after taking a 4-3 lead and had a sideout rate of 72 percent.
Set 2
Junior outside hitter Tori Woogk came off the bench to provide a spark with a team-best five kills in the frame on eight attacks. Liberty led during the early stages of the set before Rice used a 7-0 run to take the lead for good, 11-10.
Set 3
The Owls had a match-high 24 digs in the set while limiting Liberty to a clip of .137, including nine errors. Rice trailed 15-12 midway through the set but managed to pull even at 20-20 following Morgan's fourth kill of the game. Rice was the benefactor of three Lady Flame errors to give the Owls their final three points.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Lennon (7 kills) registered her 500th career kill.
• Morgan (.421) and Woogk (.389) led the Owls offensively with nine kills apiece.
• Rice had five players record six or more kills.
• The Owls 4-1 record is their best start through five matches since the 2009 team that began the year 8-1.
• Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham (16 digs) and Livingstone (15 digs) combined for 31 digs.
• Rice improved to 5-0 this season in the opening set.
• The Owls have now held their opponents to a hitting percentage of .200 or less in four of five matches.
UP NEXT
Rice closes out their home tournament with a chance to earn Rice Adidas Invitational I title honors tonight at 7 p.m. against Houston Baptist (3-2). For more information on the six-match tournament, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com for times and ticket information.
-RiceOwls.com-
HOUSTON – Behind a stingy defensive performance, the Rice Owls (4-1) volleyball team swept the Liberty Lady Flames (2-4) in straight sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) Saturday morning in the second of three matches at the Rice Adidas Invitational I.
The Owls limited Liberty to just a .164 hitting percentage and took advantage of 17 Lady Flame errors. Rice will now have an opportunity to win the Rice Adidas Invitational I outright this evening at 7 p.m. when they host Houston Baptist.
"This was a good, solid win for us. We really wanted to close it out in three sets. Our defense really picked up from last night and carried us to victory. Now we get a quick rest and are back at it tonight versus Houston Baptist."
Set 1
The Owls used a balanced scoring attack with seven different players registering at least one kill en route to a 25-18 victory. Junior middle blocker Grace Morgan, sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon, freshman middle blocker Anota Adekunle, and senior outside hitter Shelby Livingstone all had three kills apiece. Rice never trailed after taking a 4-3 lead and had a sideout rate of 72 percent.
Set 2
Junior outside hitter Tori Woogk came off the bench to provide a spark with a team-best five kills in the frame on eight attacks. Liberty led during the early stages of the set before Rice used a 7-0 run to take the lead for good, 11-10.
Set 3
The Owls had a match-high 24 digs in the set while limiting Liberty to a clip of .137, including nine errors. Rice trailed 15-12 midway through the set but managed to pull even at 20-20 following Morgan's fourth kill of the game. Rice was the benefactor of three Lady Flame errors to give the Owls their final three points.
• Lennon (7 kills) registered her 500th career kill.
• Morgan (.421) and Woogk (.389) led the Owls offensively with nine kills apiece.
• Rice had five players record six or more kills.
• The Owls 4-1 record is their best start through five matches since the 2009 team that began the year 8-1.
• Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham (16 digs) and Livingstone (15 digs) combined for 31 digs.
• Rice improved to 5-0 this season in the opening set.
• The Owls have now held their opponents to a hitting percentage of .200 or less in four of five matches.
Rice closes out their home tournament with a chance to earn Rice Adidas Invitational I title honors tonight at 7 p.m. against Houston Baptist (3-2). For more information on the six-match tournament, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com for times and ticket information.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
LIBERTY
RICE
Kills
37
44
Errors
17
15
Attempts
122
125
Hitting %
.164
.232
Points
47.0
53.0
Assists
35
40
Aces
2
5
Blocks
8.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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