Friday, September 27
Houston, TX
6:00 pm CT
Rice University
12-1, 1-0
3
vs
0
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UTEP
7-7, 0-1
1
2
3
F
UTEP
20
15
18
0
No.22 Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Sweep UTEP in C-USA Opener
9/27/2019 9:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – The No. 22 Rice Owls volleyball team took down the UTEP Miners in straight sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) Friday evening in the Conference USA opener at Tudor Fieldhouse, winning their 16th consecutive home match dating back to last season.
Rice (12-1, 1-0) matched the 1987 Owls for the best 13-match start in program history by holding UTEP (7-7, 0-1) to a .083 hitting percentage for the night.
Junior outside hitter and the reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Nicole Lennon led all players with 14 kills (.345) on 29 attacks and collected 11 digs for her team-leading seventh double-double of the season.
The Owls also posted a solid middle threat with sophomore Anota Adekunle registering 10 kills on 14 attacks (.571) while senior middle Grace Morgan contributed seven kills on 13 swings (.538).
Senior outside hitter Tabitha Brown led all players with 16 digs while Adekunle and Morgan each posted three blocks.
Rice outhit UTEP .236-.083 and outgained the Miners in digs (62-46), blocks (7.0-6.0) and sideout percentage (63.6-45.2).
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
Postgame Reaction…
"I think there were times tonight where we were crisp, and then others where we weren't. UTEP did a great job of keeping the ball off the floor, pushing us and extending rallies. There were a lot of general errors on both sides tonight but we're pleased with the outcome and we're looking forward to improving tomorrow before heading to North Texas."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls jumped on the Miners early by putting together a 7-0 run after UTEP scored the first point. Rice never allowed UTEP to get back in the frame as Lennon totaled seven kills in the first set alone in the Owls 25-20 victory. Rice hit just .128 as a team but held UTEP to a .000 hitting clip.
Set 2
Rice led from start-to-finish in set two and broke the game open with a 12-3 run midway through the set to take a 23-12 lead. The Owls took advantage of eight attack errors by the Miners in a 25-15 victory. Adekunle posted seven of her 10 kills in set two.
Set 3
Lennon would add four more kills in the final set, including a stretch of three straight in which the Owls opened up a 13-7 advantage. Rice posted their best offensive game of the match by hitting .382 with 15 kills and just two errors. Tori Woogk came off the bench to contribute three kills in the set as did Morgan.
Up Next
The Owls travel to North Texas for a Sunday match at 1 p.m. in Denton. That match will be streamed on CUSAtv.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (12-1, 1-0) matched the 1987 Owls for the best 13-match start in program history by holding UTEP (7-7, 0-1) to a .083 hitting percentage for the night.
Junior outside hitter and the reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Nicole Lennon led all players with 14 kills (.345) on 29 attacks and collected 11 digs for her team-leading seventh double-double of the season.
The Owls also posted a solid middle threat with sophomore Anota Adekunle registering 10 kills on 14 attacks (.571) while senior middle Grace Morgan contributed seven kills on 13 swings (.538).
Senior outside hitter Tabitha Brown led all players with 16 digs while Adekunle and Morgan each posted three blocks.
Rice outhit UTEP .236-.083 and outgained the Miners in digs (62-46), blocks (7.0-6.0) and sideout percentage (63.6-45.2).
Postgame Reaction…
"I think there were times tonight where we were crisp, and then others where we weren't. UTEP did a great job of keeping the ball off the floor, pushing us and extending rallies. There were a lot of general errors on both sides tonight but we're pleased with the outcome and we're looking forward to improving tomorrow before heading to North Texas."
Set 1
The Owls jumped on the Miners early by putting together a 7-0 run after UTEP scored the first point. Rice never allowed UTEP to get back in the frame as Lennon totaled seven kills in the first set alone in the Owls 25-20 victory. Rice hit just .128 as a team but held UTEP to a .000 hitting clip.
Set 2
Rice led from start-to-finish in set two and broke the game open with a 12-3 run midway through the set to take a 23-12 lead. The Owls took advantage of eight attack errors by the Miners in a 25-15 victory. Adekunle posted seven of her 10 kills in set two.
Set 3
Lennon would add four more kills in the final set, including a stretch of three straight in which the Owls opened up a 13-7 advantage. Rice posted their best offensive game of the match by hitting .382 with 15 kills and just two errors. Tori Woogk came off the bench to contribute three kills in the set as did Morgan.
The Owls travel to North Texas for a Sunday match at 1 p.m. in Denton. That match will be streamed on CUSAtv.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
UTEP
RICE
Kills
31
39
Errors
21
14
Attempts
121
106
Hitting %
.083
.236
Points
40.0
49.0
Assists
27
34
Aces
3
3
Blocks
6.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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