Tuesday, September 11
Nacogdoches, TX
5:00 pm CT
Rice University
6-4
1
at
3
Stephen F. Austin
10-2
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
25
21
28
24
1
Stephen F. Austin
22
25
30
26
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker/Rice Athletics
Volleyball Drops Road Match at SFA
9/11/2018 8:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon’s 17 kills not enough in four-set loss to Ladyjacks
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Rice sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon recorded a match-high 17 kills and junior outside hitter Tori Woogk added a career-high 16 kills, but the Rice Owls volleyball team was unable to take back momentum in a four-set loss (25-22, 21-25, 28-30, 24-26) Tuesday evening at Stephen F. Austin.
The Owls (6-4) dropped consecutive matches for the first time all season despite totaling more kills (66-52), assists (62-46), digs (98-76) and team blocks (9.0-8.0). Rice also held an edge in hitting percentage over the Ladyjacks, .202-.156, but committed six more attack errors (29-23).
The victory marked the seventh straight for SFA (10-2).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls had one of their most efficient offensive sets of the season in the opening frame, hitting .341 as a team (19 kills/41 attacks) and posting a sideout clip of 73 percent on their way to a 25-22 victory. Morgan led the Owls with five kills, followed by four from freshman middle blocker Anota Adekunle. Rice never trailed in the set, and despite SFA pulling to within 17-16, Rice closed strong to take a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2
The tables turned a bit in set two for the Owls as the Ladyjacks responded by limiting Rice to a .136 hitting percentage while SFA posted a 72% sideout percentage. Rice managed to cut a once 16-9 deficit to 23-20 thanks to a 5-1 run, which included a pair of kills from Kassidy Muse. However, SFA held on for a match-tying 25-21 win.
Set 3
In what was easily the most competitive set of the 2018 season, the Owls dropped a heart-breaking 30-28 set to the Ladyjacks. Rice held on set point three separate occasions, while SFA did so twice. Woogk was unstoppable with nine kills in the set while Lennon added an additional six kills. However, with the score tied 28-28, it was SFA that scored the final two points to win 30-28.
Set 4
The Owls dug themselves a 13-6 hole in set four but managed to climb themselves out and then some, eventually taking a 22-21 lead. The Ladyjacks answered and went back in front, 24-23, but Lennon kept hope alive with a match-saving kill to tie the score at 24-24. SFA would put the match away though with one of Danae Daron's 11 kills followed by a match-clinching ace.
MATCH NOTES
• Three Owls recorded 10 or more kills: Lennon (17), Woogk (16), and Grace Morgan (10). Muse almost made it a fourth with eight kills.
• Woogk added a season-high 13 digs to go along with the 16 kills for her first double-double as an Owl. The Fort Worth, Texas native now has 30 kills over her last eight sets played.
• Freshman setter Carly Graham tied a season-high with 33 assists for the third time this season and just missed her sixth double-double of the season with nine digs.
• Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 24 digs. It was her fifth match this season with 20 or more digs and third straight overall. Senior Shelby Livingstone added an addition 17 digs, her fifth match of the season with 15 or more digs.
• The Owls 98 team digs set a season-high, as did their 66 kills and 62 assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse to host the Rice Adidas Invitational II tournament this weekend at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice will welcome in Ole Miss (Friday-6:30 p.m.), Austin Peay (Saturday-11 a.m.) and McNeese State (Saturday- 7 p.m.) in the final non-conference matches of the regular season. For ticket information and links, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls (6-4) dropped consecutive matches for the first time all season despite totaling more kills (66-52), assists (62-46), digs (98-76) and team blocks (9.0-8.0). Rice also held an edge in hitting percentage over the Ladyjacks, .202-.156, but committed six more attack errors (29-23).
The victory marked the seventh straight for SFA (10-2).
Set 1
The Owls had one of their most efficient offensive sets of the season in the opening frame, hitting .341 as a team (19 kills/41 attacks) and posting a sideout clip of 73 percent on their way to a 25-22 victory. Morgan led the Owls with five kills, followed by four from freshman middle blocker Anota Adekunle. Rice never trailed in the set, and despite SFA pulling to within 17-16, Rice closed strong to take a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2
The tables turned a bit in set two for the Owls as the Ladyjacks responded by limiting Rice to a .136 hitting percentage while SFA posted a 72% sideout percentage. Rice managed to cut a once 16-9 deficit to 23-20 thanks to a 5-1 run, which included a pair of kills from Kassidy Muse. However, SFA held on for a match-tying 25-21 win.
Set 3
In what was easily the most competitive set of the 2018 season, the Owls dropped a heart-breaking 30-28 set to the Ladyjacks. Rice held on set point three separate occasions, while SFA did so twice. Woogk was unstoppable with nine kills in the set while Lennon added an additional six kills. However, with the score tied 28-28, it was SFA that scored the final two points to win 30-28.
Set 4
The Owls dug themselves a 13-6 hole in set four but managed to climb themselves out and then some, eventually taking a 22-21 lead. The Ladyjacks answered and went back in front, 24-23, but Lennon kept hope alive with a match-saving kill to tie the score at 24-24. SFA would put the match away though with one of Danae Daron's 11 kills followed by a match-clinching ace.
• Three Owls recorded 10 or more kills: Lennon (17), Woogk (16), and Grace Morgan (10). Muse almost made it a fourth with eight kills.
• Woogk added a season-high 13 digs to go along with the 16 kills for her first double-double as an Owl. The Fort Worth, Texas native now has 30 kills over her last eight sets played.
• Freshman setter Carly Graham tied a season-high with 33 assists for the third time this season and just missed her sixth double-double of the season with nine digs.
• Junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 24 digs. It was her fifth match this season with 20 or more digs and third straight overall. Senior Shelby Livingstone added an addition 17 digs, her fifth match of the season with 15 or more digs.
• The Owls 98 team digs set a season-high, as did their 66 kills and 62 assists.
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse to host the Rice Adidas Invitational II tournament this weekend at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice will welcome in Ole Miss (Friday-6:30 p.m.), Austin Peay (Saturday-11 a.m.) and McNeese State (Saturday- 7 p.m.) in the final non-conference matches of the regular season. For ticket information and links, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
SFA
Kills
66
52
Errors
29
23
Attempts
183
186
Hitting %
.202
.156
Points
78.0
69.0
Assists
62
46
Aces
3
9
Blocks
9.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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