Sunday, November 24
Houston, TX
12 p.m. CT
Rice University
26-3
2
vs
3
No. 19 WKU (Championship)
31-1
1
2
3
4
5
F
Rice
17
25
27
26
9
2
WKU
25
18
29
24
15
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Drop C-USA Title Match to WKU in Five Sets
11/24/2019 4:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon, Adekunle, Morgan named to all-tournament team
HOUSTON – The No. 21 Rice Owls volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking five-set loss (17-25, 25-18, 27-29, 26-24, 9-15) to No. 19 WKU in the Conference USA Championship match Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls fell behind 2-1 in the match but forced a decisive fifth set, rallying from a 24-21 deficit to win 26-24 in set four.
In the loss, Rice junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with 25 kills (.328) and also added 13 digs for a double-double. The Owls also received double-figure kills from Grace Morgan (11 kills-.391), Anota Adekunle (10 kills-.350), and Ellie Bichelmeyer (10 kills).
Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 18 digs while Morgan led the team with three blocks.
Lennon, Adekunle, and Morgan each earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team.
The Owls will next await their postseason destination with the NCAA Selection Show on tap for Sunday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Rice will be in search of their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Genny Volpe Postgame Reaction
"That's what we've done all year is battle and fight, we're just never going to give up. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in that sort of situation where you're down and if you don't find a way to kick into gear you're done. That's something we can bring with us to the NCAA Tournament. We've got to hold our heads high, I'm super proud to be their coach."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Lennon totaled six kills in the set on 15 attacks but the Owls hit just .028 percent as a team while WKU posted a .357 hitting clip. WKU used an 8-1 run midway through to take an 18-13 lead and eventually won 25-17. The Lady Toppers recorded 6.0 team blocks and the Owls committed 10 errors.
Set 2
Needing to get a set back, the Owls stepped up with a 25-18 match-tying victory. Rice controlled much of the frame by outhitting WKU .269-.121 and recorded three service aces. Morgan, Lennon, and Bichelmeyer all added three kills apiece in the victory.
Set 3
WKU held three times on set point before eventually winning 29-27 in a frame that saw 22 ties. Lennon and WKU's Lauren Matthews each recorded seven kills and the Lady Toppers outhit Rice, .340-.319.
Set 4
The Owls refused to go away late, rallying from the 24-21 deficit with five consecutive points for the 26-24 victory. Bichelmeyer posted a pair of kills during the run and Lennon put the set away with a kill on point 26. The Owls totaled 20 kills in the set and hit .395 as a team with Lennon accounting for eight kills.
Set 5
The Lady Toppers outlasted the Owls by posting a .500 hitting clip in the final frame while Rice was only able to notch four kills.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls fell behind 2-1 in the match but forced a decisive fifth set, rallying from a 24-21 deficit to win 26-24 in set four.
In the loss, Rice junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with 25 kills (.328) and also added 13 digs for a double-double. The Owls also received double-figure kills from Grace Morgan (11 kills-.391), Anota Adekunle (10 kills-.350), and Ellie Bichelmeyer (10 kills).
Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 18 digs while Morgan led the team with three blocks.
Lennon, Adekunle, and Morgan each earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team.
The Owls will next await their postseason destination with the NCAA Selection Show on tap for Sunday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Rice will be in search of their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
"That's what we've done all year is battle and fight, we're just never going to give up. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in that sort of situation where you're down and if you don't find a way to kick into gear you're done. That's something we can bring with us to the NCAA Tournament. We've got to hold our heads high, I'm super proud to be their coach."
Set 1
Lennon totaled six kills in the set on 15 attacks but the Owls hit just .028 percent as a team while WKU posted a .357 hitting clip. WKU used an 8-1 run midway through to take an 18-13 lead and eventually won 25-17. The Lady Toppers recorded 6.0 team blocks and the Owls committed 10 errors.
Set 2
Needing to get a set back, the Owls stepped up with a 25-18 match-tying victory. Rice controlled much of the frame by outhitting WKU .269-.121 and recorded three service aces. Morgan, Lennon, and Bichelmeyer all added three kills apiece in the victory.
Set 3
WKU held three times on set point before eventually winning 29-27 in a frame that saw 22 ties. Lennon and WKU's Lauren Matthews each recorded seven kills and the Lady Toppers outhit Rice, .340-.319.
Set 4
The Owls refused to go away late, rallying from the 24-21 deficit with five consecutive points for the 26-24 victory. Bichelmeyer posted a pair of kills during the run and Lennon put the set away with a kill on point 26. The Owls totaled 20 kills in the set and hit .395 as a team with Lennon accounting for eight kills.
Set 5
The Lady Toppers outlasted the Owls by posting a .500 hitting clip in the final frame while Rice was only able to notch four kills.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
WKU
Kills
62
71
Errors
25
19
Attempts
161
170
Hitting %
.230
.306
Points
74.0
88.0
Assists
60
70
Aces
7
7
Blocks
5.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
25
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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