Wednesday, September 18
Houston, TX
6:30 pm CT
Rice University
10-1
3
vs
2
No. 3 Texas
5-2
1
2
3
4
5
F
No. 3 Texas
22
18
25
25
13
2
Rice
25
25
13
14
15
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Volleyball Stuns No. 3 Texas at Tudor Fieldhouse
9/18/2019 10:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Owls record first-ever victory over Longhorns
HOUSTON – In front of a record-breaking crowd of 3,012 at Tudor Fieldhouse Wednesday evening, the Rice Owls volleyball team recorded a program-defining win with a five-set (25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 14-25, 15-13) victory over the No. 3 Texas Longhorns.
(RV) Rice (10-1) defeated the Longhorns (5-2) for the first time in program history, breaking a string of 36 consecutive losses dating back to 1982. It also marked the first time Rice had ever defeated a Top-10 program.
The Owls last went five sets with a Top-3 ranked team back on Sept. 17, 2004 when Volpe's-led Owls fell in five games to then No. 1 Minnesota.
On Wednesday, the reigning Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week Nicole Lennon had another monster performance for the Owls with a match-high 23 kills on 60 attacks to go along with 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. It marked the third consecutive match with 20 or more kills from the Katy, Texas native.
Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan posted nine kills (.263) and contributed a match-high five blocks. Senior Tabitha Brown played a big role in helping hold the talented Longhorns to a .248 hitting percentage with a match-high 28 digs while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected 16 digs.
Rice managed to secure the win despite being outhit .248-.174 but outgained the Longhorns in digs (74-66) and blocks (9.0-8.0).
The Longhorns, who's only other loss this season was to then No. 1 Stanford in five sets, were led by Micaya White (16 kills) and Logan Eggleston (16 kills).
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
Postgame Reaction…
"We tried to approach this match like we do many others, just focus on the process and doing our jobs and trusting that we have the talent and experience to go toe-to-toe with Texas. We believe we can compete at the highest level. Sometimes we forget that. We lost a match over the weekend that hurt our confidence a little bit. But we came out today and remembered who we are and the work we've put in. To me it was a quality win against a quality team and it means that we're taking steps forward as a program."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls dominated through both of the first two sets, including a 25-22 victory in game one in which Rice held the Longhorns to a .205 hitting percentage. Rice went on a 7-2 run midway through the frame to take control for a 16-10 advantage. The Longhorns closed the gap late to 23-22 but consecutive combo blocks from Ellie Bichelmeyer/Morgan and Brown/Anota Adekunle gave Rice the 25-22 win.
Set 2
In set two Rice turned up the defense even more, limiting Texas to a .026 hitting clip en route to a 25-18 victory to take a 2-0 match lead. Rice never trailed in the set and the Owls carried all the momentum into the five-minute break.
Set 3
Texas flipped the script in set three, cruising to a 25-13 victory by limiting Rice to a -.094 hitting rate. The Owls had nine attack errors in the third.
Set 4
The Longhorns managed to even the match with a 25-14 victory in the fourth game as they found their offense by connecting with 17 kills on 31 attacks (.516). The Owls were unable to climb any closer than 17-12.
Set 5
In the final thrilling set, both teams played to seven ties and the Longhorns at one point held an 11-9 lead. However, Rice answered with three consecutive points on kills from Lennon, Morgan and Muse. Following an Owls' error that tied the game 12-12, Muse and Lennon recorded back-to-back kills to give Rice the lead for good. After one last point from Texas made it 14-13, Lennon sent Tudor Fieldhouse into pandemonium with her 23rd kill of the night for the match-winner, 15-13.
Up Next
The Owls wrap up non-conference action this Saturday when they host TCU at Tudor Fieldhouse this Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
(RV) Rice (10-1) defeated the Longhorns (5-2) for the first time in program history, breaking a string of 36 consecutive losses dating back to 1982. It also marked the first time Rice had ever defeated a Top-10 program.
The Owls last went five sets with a Top-3 ranked team back on Sept. 17, 2004 when Volpe's-led Owls fell in five games to then No. 1 Minnesota.
On Wednesday, the reigning Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week Nicole Lennon had another monster performance for the Owls with a match-high 23 kills on 60 attacks to go along with 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. It marked the third consecutive match with 20 or more kills from the Katy, Texas native.
Senior middle blocker Grace Morgan posted nine kills (.263) and contributed a match-high five blocks. Senior Tabitha Brown played a big role in helping hold the talented Longhorns to a .248 hitting percentage with a match-high 28 digs while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham collected 16 digs.
Rice managed to secure the win despite being outhit .248-.174 but outgained the Longhorns in digs (74-66) and blocks (9.0-8.0).
The Longhorns, who's only other loss this season was to then No. 1 Stanford in five sets, were led by Micaya White (16 kills) and Logan Eggleston (16 kills).
Postgame Reaction…
"We tried to approach this match like we do many others, just focus on the process and doing our jobs and trusting that we have the talent and experience to go toe-to-toe with Texas. We believe we can compete at the highest level. Sometimes we forget that. We lost a match over the weekend that hurt our confidence a little bit. But we came out today and remembered who we are and the work we've put in. To me it was a quality win against a quality team and it means that we're taking steps forward as a program."
Set 1
The Owls dominated through both of the first two sets, including a 25-22 victory in game one in which Rice held the Longhorns to a .205 hitting percentage. Rice went on a 7-2 run midway through the frame to take control for a 16-10 advantage. The Longhorns closed the gap late to 23-22 but consecutive combo blocks from Ellie Bichelmeyer/Morgan and Brown/Anota Adekunle gave Rice the 25-22 win.
Set 2
In set two Rice turned up the defense even more, limiting Texas to a .026 hitting clip en route to a 25-18 victory to take a 2-0 match lead. Rice never trailed in the set and the Owls carried all the momentum into the five-minute break.
Set 3
Texas flipped the script in set three, cruising to a 25-13 victory by limiting Rice to a -.094 hitting rate. The Owls had nine attack errors in the third.
Set 4
The Longhorns managed to even the match with a 25-14 victory in the fourth game as they found their offense by connecting with 17 kills on 31 attacks (.516). The Owls were unable to climb any closer than 17-12.
Set 5
In the final thrilling set, both teams played to seven ties and the Longhorns at one point held an 11-9 lead. However, Rice answered with three consecutive points on kills from Lennon, Morgan and Muse. Following an Owls' error that tied the game 12-12, Muse and Lennon recorded back-to-back kills to give Rice the lead for good. After one last point from Texas made it 14-13, Lennon sent Tudor Fieldhouse into pandemonium with her 23rd kill of the night for the match-winner, 15-13.
The Owls wrap up non-conference action this Saturday when they host TCU at Tudor Fieldhouse this Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
UT
RICE
Kills
60
57
Errors
20
29
Attempts
161
161
Hitting %
.248
.174
Points
72.0
68.0
Assists
57
52
Aces
4
2
Blocks
8.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballVB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
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