Tuesday, September 3
San Marcos, TX
6:00 pm CT
Rice University
3-0
3
at
0
Texas State
1-3
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
25
25
3
Texas St.
13
10
21
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Move to 3-0 with Sweep of Bobcats
9/3/2019 9:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice holds Texas St. to -.049 hitting percentage
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team used a stifling defense and an efficient offense to record their third straight sweep to start the 2019 season, downing Texas State 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-21) Tuesday evening at Strahan Arena.
Rice (3-0) has won their first nine sets to start a season for the first time since 2005, which is also the last time the Owls began a campaign 3-0.
In a rematch of last year's NCAA First Round in Austin, the Owls held the Bobcats (1-3) to a -.049 hitting percentage, marking the first time the Owls held an opponent to a negative hitting clip since 2014 (UTEP, Oct. 3, -.017).
Rice junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led the way offensively with a match-high 14 kills on 32 attacks (.406) while senior middle blocker Grace Morgan hit a proficient .545 with six kills on 11 attacks.
The Owls took advantage of 32 attack errors and as well as seven service errors from the Bobcats.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
Postgame Reaction…
"Obviously we're really pleased with a 3-0 win on the road again against Texas St., who have become somewhat of a rival for us. I don't think they (Texas St.) played their best today. But we came out serving really strong and I think that set the tone very early and got them out of rhythm. Whenever they're in system they're a really strong team. And then we kind of put our foot on the gas, which is tough to do. I'm extremely proud of how we finished that match off in three sets. Now we've got a big weekend ahead of us and we've got to get some rest and recovery."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Lennon recorded five kills on nine attacks while Texas St. committed 12 attack errors in what proved to be a convincing 25-13 victory for the Owls. Sophomore setter Carly Graham recorded a pair of aces while the Bobcats hit -.118 in the win.
Set 2
The Owls kept their foot on the pedal in the second frame en route to a 25-10 triumph. Rice hit .333 as a team with six different players registering kills, led by three from Lennon. The Bobcats had eight more attack errors in the game and Rice held possession with a dominating 72 percent sideout clip.
Set 3
Rice pulled away from Texas St. in the closing stages of set three, wrapping up the sweep with a 25-21 victory. Lennon had her best set of the match with six kills on 15 attacks (.400) while the Bobcats dug themselves a hole with 12 attack errors. Tabitha Brown added one of her team-best three service aces while Lee Ann Cunningham and Adria Martinez had four digs apiece.
Up Next
The Owls make their first appearance of the regular season at Tudor Fieldhouse this weekend when they host both Loyola Marymount and Abilene Christian as part of the Rice Adidas Invitational. Rice will face LMU on Friday, Sept. 7 at noon before playing the Lions again on Saturday, also at noon. The Owls will close out the tournament against the Wildcats on Saturday at 7 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (3-0) has won their first nine sets to start a season for the first time since 2005, which is also the last time the Owls began a campaign 3-0.
In a rematch of last year's NCAA First Round in Austin, the Owls held the Bobcats (1-3) to a -.049 hitting percentage, marking the first time the Owls held an opponent to a negative hitting clip since 2014 (UTEP, Oct. 3, -.017).
Rice junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led the way offensively with a match-high 14 kills on 32 attacks (.406) while senior middle blocker Grace Morgan hit a proficient .545 with six kills on 11 attacks.
The Owls took advantage of 32 attack errors and as well as seven service errors from the Bobcats.
Postgame Reaction…
"Obviously we're really pleased with a 3-0 win on the road again against Texas St., who have become somewhat of a rival for us. I don't think they (Texas St.) played their best today. But we came out serving really strong and I think that set the tone very early and got them out of rhythm. Whenever they're in system they're a really strong team. And then we kind of put our foot on the gas, which is tough to do. I'm extremely proud of how we finished that match off in three sets. Now we've got a big weekend ahead of us and we've got to get some rest and recovery."
Set 1
Lennon recorded five kills on nine attacks while Texas St. committed 12 attack errors in what proved to be a convincing 25-13 victory for the Owls. Sophomore setter Carly Graham recorded a pair of aces while the Bobcats hit -.118 in the win.
Set 2
The Owls kept their foot on the pedal in the second frame en route to a 25-10 triumph. Rice hit .333 as a team with six different players registering kills, led by three from Lennon. The Bobcats had eight more attack errors in the game and Rice held possession with a dominating 72 percent sideout clip.
Set 3
Rice pulled away from Texas St. in the closing stages of set three, wrapping up the sweep with a 25-21 victory. Lennon had her best set of the match with six kills on 15 attacks (.400) while the Bobcats dug themselves a hole with 12 attack errors. Tabitha Brown added one of her team-best three service aces while Lee Ann Cunningham and Adria Martinez had four digs apiece.
The Owls make their first appearance of the regular season at Tudor Fieldhouse this weekend when they host both Loyola Marymount and Abilene Christian as part of the Rice Adidas Invitational. Rice will face LMU on Friday, Sept. 7 at noon before playing the Lions again on Saturday, also at noon. The Owls will close out the tournament against the Wildcats on Saturday at 7 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
TXST
Kills
28
27
Errors
8
32
Attempts
77
103
Hitting %
.260
-.049
Points
42
28
Assists
27
24
Aces
6
0
Blocks
8
1
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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