Sunday, October 27
Houston, TX
1:00 pm CT
Rice University
19-1, 8-0
3
vs
1
FIU
9-12, 2-7
1
2
3
4
F
FIU
22
25
18
21
1
Rice
25
22
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Adekunle Records 20 Kills in Owls 10th Straight Win
10/27/2019 4:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – Rice sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle helped lead the No. 19 Owls volleyball team to their 10th consecutive win by recording a career-high 20 kills in a 3-1 victory (25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21) Sunday afternoon over FIU at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (19-1, 8-0) secured their 20th consecutive home victory dating back to last season, which is tied with Stephen F. Austin for the second-longest active streak in the nation.
Rice won despite hitting a season-low .168 as a team and committing a season-high 33 attack errors. The Owls made up for the miscues with their best serving performance of the year, collecting a season-high 12 aces, led by four from senior Tabitha Brown.
Adekunle totaled the team-high 20 kills on 32 attacks (.500) and contributed a team-best four blocks for a total of 23.5 points. Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon achieved her 12th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs for an additional 15.0 points. Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan, freshman outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer, and senior right side hitter Tori Woogk all contributed six kills apiece.
Senior setter Adria Martinez also nearly recorded a double-double with 34 assists and eight digs while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected a team-high 14 digs.
With the victory, the Owls kept pace with No. 23 WKU (23-1, 9-0) as the only undefeated teams in Conference USA.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Rice trailed 12-10 midway through the opening frame before reeling off five consecutive points to take a 15-12 advantage and never relinquished the lead again. Adekunle and Lennon posted five kills apiece and Rice hit .282 as a team on their way to a 25-22 victory. FIU closed the deficit to 23-22 late but Woogk recorded a kill and Morgan followed with a set-clinching solo block.
Set 2
The Owls school record streak of 26 consecutive sets without a loss came to a close as FIU held on for a match-tying 25-22 win. It was Rice's first set loss since dropping the fourth frame to then No. 3 Texas back on Sept. 18. Rice hit just .116 in the set while FIU succeeded at a .279 clip.
Set 3
In set three Adekunle put the Owls on her back, helping erase a 15-13 deficit with a 12-3 run to win 25-18. The sophomore recorded eight kills on nine attacks in the game while Lennon added an additional four kills. The Owls hit .303 in the set and Martinez dished out 10 assists.
Set 4
The Owls put the match away with a 25-21 victory as Lennon and Adekunle matched each other with four kills apiece and Woogk came off the bench with three kills of her own. Rice actually posted more errors (12) than kills (11) in the game but the defense held FIU to just a .069 hitting clip and the Owls added four aces to gain separation.
Up Next
The Owls return to the road for a pair of matches next weekend, traveling to Charlotte (Nov. 1) and UAB (Nov. 3).
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls (19-1, 8-0) secured their 20th consecutive home victory dating back to last season, which is tied with Stephen F. Austin for the second-longest active streak in the nation.
Rice won despite hitting a season-low .168 as a team and committing a season-high 33 attack errors. The Owls made up for the miscues with their best serving performance of the year, collecting a season-high 12 aces, led by four from senior Tabitha Brown.
Adekunle totaled the team-high 20 kills on 32 attacks (.500) and contributed a team-best four blocks for a total of 23.5 points. Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon achieved her 12th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs for an additional 15.0 points. Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan, freshman outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer, and senior right side hitter Tori Woogk all contributed six kills apiece.
Senior setter Adria Martinez also nearly recorded a double-double with 34 assists and eight digs while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected a team-high 14 digs.
With the victory, the Owls kept pace with No. 23 WKU (23-1, 9-0) as the only undefeated teams in Conference USA.
Set 1
Rice trailed 12-10 midway through the opening frame before reeling off five consecutive points to take a 15-12 advantage and never relinquished the lead again. Adekunle and Lennon posted five kills apiece and Rice hit .282 as a team on their way to a 25-22 victory. FIU closed the deficit to 23-22 late but Woogk recorded a kill and Morgan followed with a set-clinching solo block.
Set 2
The Owls school record streak of 26 consecutive sets without a loss came to a close as FIU held on for a match-tying 25-22 win. It was Rice's first set loss since dropping the fourth frame to then No. 3 Texas back on Sept. 18. Rice hit just .116 in the set while FIU succeeded at a .279 clip.
Set 3
In set three Adekunle put the Owls on her back, helping erase a 15-13 deficit with a 12-3 run to win 25-18. The sophomore recorded eight kills on nine attacks in the game while Lennon added an additional four kills. The Owls hit .303 in the set and Martinez dished out 10 assists.
Set 4
The Owls put the match away with a 25-21 victory as Lennon and Adekunle matched each other with four kills apiece and Woogk came off the bench with three kills of her own. Rice actually posted more errors (12) than kills (11) in the game but the defense held FIU to just a .069 hitting clip and the Owls added four aces to gain separation.
The Owls return to the road for a pair of matches next weekend, traveling to Charlotte (Nov. 1) and UAB (Nov. 3).
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
FIU
RICE
Kills
45
58
Errors
18
33
Attempts
141
149
Hitting %
.191
.168
Points
57.5
76.0
Assists
43
53
Aces
2
12
Blocks
10.5
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
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