Friday, September 13
Jonesboro, AR
6:30 pm CT
Rice University
9-0
3
at
1
Arkansas State
5-3
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
25
25
20
25
3
Arkansas St.
18
23
25
18
1
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Volleyball Defeats Red Wolves to Improve to 9-0
9/13/2019 9:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon sets career-high with 26 kills
JONESBORO, Ark. – Rice junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon helped guide the Owls to their ninth consecutive victory to start the season by posting a career-high 26 kills in a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18) over host Arkansas State Friday evening.
The Owls (9-0), who are inching ever closer to being ranked in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, won their second match of the day and have dropped just three out of 30 sets played to begin the year.
In addition to her offense, Lennon also totaled 14 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season. Sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle complimented Lennon offensively with 12 kills on 20 attacks (.550) while fellow middle blocker Grace Morgan also hit an efficient .500 with eight kills on 16 tries to go along with a match-high six blocks.
The Owls also got a double-double from setter Carly Graham, who put up a line of 16 assists and 11 digs to go along with fellow setter Adria Martinez's performance of 27 assists and eight digs. Senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham once again led all players with a match-high 24 digs, her third match this season with 20 or more digs.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
Postgame Reaction…
"I'm really proud of our resiliency today. Arkansas State played a great match and is a very good team. They made it hard for us to score all night and really challenged us with their aggressive transition attacking. Our blockers really focused at the end to push us through and Nicole finished strong helping us win in four. We will have to get a good night's rest and be ready to play an excellent SFA team in the morning."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
After a seesaw battle through the game's first 34 points, it was the Owls who broke a 17-17 tie by outscoring ASU 8-1 the rest of the way for the all-important opening set victory, 25-18. Rice held the Red Wolves to a .125 clip in the frame and hit .229 as a team.
Set 2
The Red Wolves led almost the entire second set and even held a 23-20 lead before Rice rallied back with five unanswered points. With Morgan serving, ASU committed four consecutive errors before Lennon put the game away with a kill for the final score of 25-23.
Set 3
ASU stayed alive with a 25-20 victory in the third set, hitting a match-high .349 with 16 kills and just one error.
before Lennon put the game away with a kill for the final score of 25-23.
Set 4
Rice struggled out of the gate in the final set and trailed 15-13 before busting the game open with an 8-1 run to take control and the lead, 21-16. Lennon posted six of her 26 kills in the game.
Up Next
The Owls will look to start a season 10-0 for the first time since 1987 when they take on the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin (8-1) tomorrow in the team's final match at the A-State Invitational. Rice will be looking for a bit of revenge after SFA defeated the Owls in four thrilling sets last season in Nacogdoches, Texas. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls (9-0), who are inching ever closer to being ranked in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, won their second match of the day and have dropped just three out of 30 sets played to begin the year.
In addition to her offense, Lennon also totaled 14 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season. Sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle complimented Lennon offensively with 12 kills on 20 attacks (.550) while fellow middle blocker Grace Morgan also hit an efficient .500 with eight kills on 16 tries to go along with a match-high six blocks.
The Owls also got a double-double from setter Carly Graham, who put up a line of 16 assists and 11 digs to go along with fellow setter Adria Martinez's performance of 27 assists and eight digs. Senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham once again led all players with a match-high 24 digs, her third match this season with 20 or more digs.
Postgame Reaction…
"I'm really proud of our resiliency today. Arkansas State played a great match and is a very good team. They made it hard for us to score all night and really challenged us with their aggressive transition attacking. Our blockers really focused at the end to push us through and Nicole finished strong helping us win in four. We will have to get a good night's rest and be ready to play an excellent SFA team in the morning."
Set 1
After a seesaw battle through the game's first 34 points, it was the Owls who broke a 17-17 tie by outscoring ASU 8-1 the rest of the way for the all-important opening set victory, 25-18. Rice held the Red Wolves to a .125 clip in the frame and hit .229 as a team.
Set 2
The Red Wolves led almost the entire second set and even held a 23-20 lead before Rice rallied back with five unanswered points. With Morgan serving, ASU committed four consecutive errors before Lennon put the game away with a kill for the final score of 25-23.
Set 3
ASU stayed alive with a 25-20 victory in the third set, hitting a match-high .349 with 16 kills and just one error.
before Lennon put the game away with a kill for the final score of 25-23.
Set 4
Rice struggled out of the gate in the final set and trailed 15-13 before busting the game open with an 8-1 run to take control and the lead, 21-16. Lennon posted six of her 26 kills in the game.
The Owls will look to start a season 10-0 for the first time since 1987 when they take on the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin (8-1) tomorrow in the team's final match at the A-State Invitational. Rice will be looking for a bit of revenge after SFA defeated the Owls in four thrilling sets last season in Nacogdoches, Texas. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
ASU
Kills
55
54
Errors
19
19
Attempts
159
159
Hitting %
.226
.220
Points
69.0
63.0
Assists
52
50
Aces
5
2
Blocks
9.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
26
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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