Friday, December 6
College Station, TX
6:30 pm CT
Rice University
27-4
1
vs
3
No. 25 Texas A&M
23-7
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
28
30
20
15
1
Texas A&M
26
32
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Fall to Texas A&M in Round of 32
12/6/2019 10:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
No. 21 Rice finishes the season with 27-4 record
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 21 Rice Owls volleyball team fought until the very end but saw their magical 2019 season come to a close Friday evening in a 3-1 loss (28-26, 30-32, 20-25, 15-25) to No. 25 Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
The Owls (27-4), who finished with the second-most wins in program history, concluded a season in which they won their first-ever NCAA Tournament match and claimed their first Top-25 ranking.
Rice and A&M (23-7) played to a total of 25 ties and nine lead changes, as well as two epic opening sets. The Owls stunned the Aggies in the opening frame, rallying from a 15-4 deficit to win 28-26 before A&M pulled out a 32-30 victory in set two. The Aggies would use that momentum to secure victories in set three (25-20) and set four (25-15).
The Owls had three players record double-figure kills, led by Nicole Lennon (15 kills). Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan (12 kills) and sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle (11 kills) also contributed to the Rice offense. Senior setter Adria Martinez concluded her career with a 24-assist/10-dig double-double while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham punctuated a stellar career with 23 digs.
A&M outhit Rice by a margin of .205-.118 and outgained the Owls in kills (69-49), digs (75-72), aces (5-4) and blocks (15.0-13.0).
Genny Volpe Postgame Reaction
"That was a heck of a game. I'm really proud of our team. That's one of the best matches I've been a part of as a coach. Both sides left it all out on the floor. We don't like being on this side at all but we're going to leave here with our heads hung high."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
In what will go down as one of the greatest sets in program history, the Owls erased a 15-4 deficit that sent the traveling Rice fanbase into pandemonium. Rice outscored the Aggies 24-11 down the stretch, riding the hot hand of Lennon (6 kills) and recording 6.0 team blocks. The Owls held serve on set point twice before winning on a kill from Lennon and a combo block by Tori Woogk/Morgan.
Set 2
The Owls built a 23-18 lead but the Aggies went on a 7-1 run to take a 25-24 lead. Rice proceeded to hold on set point four times before A&M rattled off the final two points to win 32-30 in the first 60+ point set played by the Owls in over two years.
Set 3
Rice freshman Ellie Bichelmeyer recorded six kills off the bench on 11 attacks but the Aggies withstood the Owls' run, going on a 5-1 run to close out a 25-20 victory.
Set 4
The Owls hit just .029 in the final frame as the Aggies led from start to finish in a 25-15 victory. Morgan notched five kills in the set but Rice committed eight errors to just nine team kills.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls (27-4), who finished with the second-most wins in program history, concluded a season in which they won their first-ever NCAA Tournament match and claimed their first Top-25 ranking.
Rice and A&M (23-7) played to a total of 25 ties and nine lead changes, as well as two epic opening sets. The Owls stunned the Aggies in the opening frame, rallying from a 15-4 deficit to win 28-26 before A&M pulled out a 32-30 victory in set two. The Aggies would use that momentum to secure victories in set three (25-20) and set four (25-15).
The Owls had three players record double-figure kills, led by Nicole Lennon (15 kills). Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan (12 kills) and sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle (11 kills) also contributed to the Rice offense. Senior setter Adria Martinez concluded her career with a 24-assist/10-dig double-double while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham punctuated a stellar career with 23 digs.
A&M outhit Rice by a margin of .205-.118 and outgained the Owls in kills (69-49), digs (75-72), aces (5-4) and blocks (15.0-13.0).
"That was a heck of a game. I'm really proud of our team. That's one of the best matches I've been a part of as a coach. Both sides left it all out on the floor. We don't like being on this side at all but we're going to leave here with our heads hung high."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
In what will go down as one of the greatest sets in program history, the Owls erased a 15-4 deficit that sent the traveling Rice fanbase into pandemonium. Rice outscored the Aggies 24-11 down the stretch, riding the hot hand of Lennon (6 kills) and recording 6.0 team blocks. The Owls held serve on set point twice before winning on a kill from Lennon and a combo block by Tori Woogk/Morgan.
Set 2
The Owls built a 23-18 lead but the Aggies went on a 7-1 run to take a 25-24 lead. Rice proceeded to hold on set point four times before A&M rattled off the final two points to win 32-30 in the first 60+ point set played by the Owls in over two years.
Set 3
Rice freshman Ellie Bichelmeyer recorded six kills off the bench on 11 attacks but the Aggies withstood the Owls' run, going on a 5-1 run to close out a 25-20 victory.
Set 4
The Owls hit just .029 in the final frame as the Aggies led from start to finish in a 25-15 victory. Morgan notched five kills in the set but Rice committed eight errors to just nine team kills.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
TAMU
Kills
49
69
Errors
29
31
Attempts
169
185
Hitting %
.118
.205
Points
66.0
89.0
Assists
48
69
Aces
4
5
Blocks
13.0
15.0
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballVB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02