Tuesday, September 10
Houston, TX
6:00 pm CT
Rice University
7-0
3
at
0
Houston Baptist
4-0
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
25
25
3
Houston Baptist
12
14
7
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Improve to 7-0 with Sweep of HBU
9/10/2019 8:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls volleyball team hit a season-high .357 as a team and made quick work of the Houston Baptist Huskies with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-14, 25-7) Tuesday evening at Sharp Gymnasium.
Rice, who is receiving 82 votes in the most recent AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, improved to 7-0 in a match completed in one hour and three minutes. The Owls recorded their fifth sweep of the season with a dominant all-around performance, limiting HBU (4-4) to a .010 hitting percentage with 62 digs (20.6 digs per set).
Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, the reigning C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, led all players in kills (12) and points (13.5). Senior Tori Woogk contributed eight kills off the bench on 13 attacks (.615) while sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle chipped in seven kills with a .312 hitting percentage.
Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham put on a clinic with 23 digs over just three sets and had 18 digs going into the final frame.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
Postgame Reaction…
"We came out very sharp and played that way from start to finish. We talked about having goals that we set for ourselves and setting high standards and the team followed through. It was one of those matches where there were a lot of long rally's, both teams were super scrappy. We ended up winning a lot of those, which just gave us all the momentum. Our first touch was really strong and the setters did a great job of balancing the offense. I'm really proud of the team and how sharp we were tonight."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls jumped out to a 5-0 advantage and never looked back in a 25-12 victory. Lennon posted seven kills in the first set alone and the Owls outhit the Huskies, .371-.000. Cunningham contributed 11 of her match-high 23 digs in the set.
Set 2
The Owls never trailed in game two, and once again jumped out to a big early lead by securing a 10-3 advantage. Woogk and Adekunle each had three kills apiece in a 25-14 victory.
Set 3
Rice played their most dominant set of the season by outscoring HBU 25-7. The Owls hit .435 for the game and had just one error on 23 attacks. Rice had three service aces in the frame, two of which came from sophomore setter Carly Graham.
Up Next
The Owls hit the road for the Arkansas State Invitational, Sept. 13-14 in Jonesboro, Ark. Rice will face both Arkansas-Pine Bluff (10 a.m.) and host Arkansas State (6:30 p.m.) on Friday before a showdown against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 11 a.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice, who is receiving 82 votes in the most recent AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, improved to 7-0 in a match completed in one hour and three minutes. The Owls recorded their fifth sweep of the season with a dominant all-around performance, limiting HBU (4-4) to a .010 hitting percentage with 62 digs (20.6 digs per set).
Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, the reigning C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, led all players in kills (12) and points (13.5). Senior Tori Woogk contributed eight kills off the bench on 13 attacks (.615) while sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle chipped in seven kills with a .312 hitting percentage.
Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham put on a clinic with 23 digs over just three sets and had 18 digs going into the final frame.
Postgame Reaction…
"We came out very sharp and played that way from start to finish. We talked about having goals that we set for ourselves and setting high standards and the team followed through. It was one of those matches where there were a lot of long rally's, both teams were super scrappy. We ended up winning a lot of those, which just gave us all the momentum. Our first touch was really strong and the setters did a great job of balancing the offense. I'm really proud of the team and how sharp we were tonight."
Set 1
The Owls jumped out to a 5-0 advantage and never looked back in a 25-12 victory. Lennon posted seven kills in the first set alone and the Owls outhit the Huskies, .371-.000. Cunningham contributed 11 of her match-high 23 digs in the set.
Set 2
The Owls never trailed in game two, and once again jumped out to a big early lead by securing a 10-3 advantage. Woogk and Adekunle each had three kills apiece in a 25-14 victory.
Set 3
Rice played their most dominant set of the season by outscoring HBU 25-7. The Owls hit .435 for the game and had just one error on 23 attacks. Rice had three service aces in the frame, two of which came from sophomore setter Carly Graham.
The Owls hit the road for the Arkansas State Invitational, Sept. 13-14 in Jonesboro, Ark. Rice will face both Arkansas-Pine Bluff (10 a.m.) and host Arkansas State (6:30 p.m.) on Friday before a showdown against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 11 a.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
HBU
Kills
44
15
Errors
9
14
Attempts
98
97
Hitting %
.357
.010
Points
55
22
Assists
38
14
Aces
6
2
Blocks
5
5
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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