Saturday, September 15
Houston, TX
7:00 pm CT
Rice University
9-4
3
vs
0
McNeese State
1-13
1
2
3
F
McNeese St.
17
19
14
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Sweep McNeese to Win Tournament
9/15/2018 9:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon (MVP), Morgan, Cunningham named to all-tourney team
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls volleyball squad cruised to a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-19, 25-14) over the McNeese St. Cowgirls in the finale of the Rice Adidas Invitational II, winning their home tournament with a perfect 3-0 weekend.
Rice (9-4) improved to 6-1 at home this season and will next move into Conference USA play, beginning next Friday at home versus UTEP. The Owls never trailed against McNeese (1-13) and were tied just once.
Rice sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon was named the tournament's MVP while junior middle blocker Grace Morgan and junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham were also selected to the team. For the weekend Lennon totaled 48 kills over 11 sets (4.36 per set) all while hitting a staggering .421. She also led the team with 53.0 points and was second on the Owls with 30 digs.
Morgan was an unstoppable offensive force in the middle, registering 35 kills on 59 attacks for a .542 hitting clip. Cunningham was the defensive stalwart for Rice, collecting 52 digs (4.73 per set) and playing a pivotal role in setting up the Owls offense.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
"We wanted to come out strong because we knew McNeese was hungry for a win. Our whole goal was to play to our potential. Our passing was superb this weekend. Lee Ann Cunningham was excellent in that area and really put us in a good position. The setters did a nice job finding the hot hitters at the right time. There were moments when different people stepped up at different times. We were able to utilize a lot of our players in different ways. If we can continue to do that we should see more success."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Morgan (.833) recorded five kills in the opening set while Tori Woogk (.600) and Shelby Livingstone (.571) added four kills apiece. Rice hit a blistering .571 for the frame, connecting on 18-of-29 attacks and added 3.0 team blocks en route to a 25-17 victory.
Set 2
Livingstone added an additional six kills in set two while Morgan added four more in a 25-18 Rice win. The Owls created a lasting cushion with an 8-0 to claim a 14-4 lead with which they never looked back. Rice hit .372 for the set and won despite the Cowgirls hitting an efficient .325.
Set 3
Rice put the match away with a dominant final set, leading at one point 16-4. Six different Owls registered kills in the set, including four from Lennon. The Owls posted a 66 percent sideout rate and cruised to a 25-14 victory.
MATCH NOTES
• For a third straight match the Owls established a season-high in hitting percentage (.410). Six different Owls hit .300 or better in the victory, including a career-best .562 performance from Lennon.
• Livingstone tied a season-high with 11 kills.
• Freshman setter Carly Graham (25 assists) and junior setter Adria Martinez (20 assists) combined for 45 assists and helped lead the Owls to the .410 hitting percentage.
• Cunningham led all players with 12 digs.
Rice Adidas Invitational II All-Tournament Team
Nicole Lennon (MVP) – Rice
Grace Morgan – Rice
Lee Ann Cunningham - Rice
Jenna Panning – Austin Peay
Kristen Stucker – Austin Peay
Nayo Warnell – Ole Miss
Katelyn Elliott – McNeese St.
UP NEXT
The Owls look continue their five-match homestand with the start of conference play on Friday, Sept. 21 when they host UTEP at 6 p.m. For ticket information and links, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (9-4) improved to 6-1 at home this season and will next move into Conference USA play, beginning next Friday at home versus UTEP. The Owls never trailed against McNeese (1-13) and were tied just once.
Rice sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon was named the tournament's MVP while junior middle blocker Grace Morgan and junior libero Lee Ann Cunningham were also selected to the team. For the weekend Lennon totaled 48 kills over 11 sets (4.36 per set) all while hitting a staggering .421. She also led the team with 53.0 points and was second on the Owls with 30 digs.
Morgan was an unstoppable offensive force in the middle, registering 35 kills on 59 attacks for a .542 hitting clip. Cunningham was the defensive stalwart for Rice, collecting 52 digs (4.73 per set) and playing a pivotal role in setting up the Owls offense.
"We wanted to come out strong because we knew McNeese was hungry for a win. Our whole goal was to play to our potential. Our passing was superb this weekend. Lee Ann Cunningham was excellent in that area and really put us in a good position. The setters did a nice job finding the hot hitters at the right time. There were moments when different people stepped up at different times. We were able to utilize a lot of our players in different ways. If we can continue to do that we should see more success."
Set 1
Morgan (.833) recorded five kills in the opening set while Tori Woogk (.600) and Shelby Livingstone (.571) added four kills apiece. Rice hit a blistering .571 for the frame, connecting on 18-of-29 attacks and added 3.0 team blocks en route to a 25-17 victory.
Set 2
Livingstone added an additional six kills in set two while Morgan added four more in a 25-18 Rice win. The Owls created a lasting cushion with an 8-0 to claim a 14-4 lead with which they never looked back. Rice hit .372 for the set and won despite the Cowgirls hitting an efficient .325.
Set 3
Rice put the match away with a dominant final set, leading at one point 16-4. Six different Owls registered kills in the set, including four from Lennon. The Owls posted a 66 percent sideout rate and cruised to a 25-14 victory.
• For a third straight match the Owls established a season-high in hitting percentage (.410). Six different Owls hit .300 or better in the victory, including a career-best .562 performance from Lennon.
• Livingstone tied a season-high with 11 kills.
• Freshman setter Carly Graham (25 assists) and junior setter Adria Martinez (20 assists) combined for 45 assists and helped lead the Owls to the .410 hitting percentage.
• Cunningham led all players with 12 digs.
Rice Adidas Invitational II All-Tournament Team
Nicole Lennon (MVP) – Rice
Grace Morgan – Rice
Lee Ann Cunningham - Rice
Jenna Panning – Austin Peay
Kristen Stucker – Austin Peay
Nayo Warnell – Ole Miss
Katelyn Elliott – McNeese St.
The Owls look continue their five-match homestand with the start of conference play on Friday, Sept. 21 when they host UTEP at 6 p.m. For ticket information and links, be sure to visit www.RiceOwls.com and @RiceVolleyball on Twitter.
-RiceOwls.com-
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Team Stats
MCN
RICE
Kills
33
52
Errors
10
11
Attempts
93
100
Hitting %
.247
.410
Points
40.0
66.0
Assists
30
51
Aces
0
10
Blocks
7.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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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