Rice University Athletics
Friday, September 6
Houston, TX
12:00 pm CT
Rice University
3
vs
1
Loyola Marymount
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Defeat Loyola Marymount in Home Opener
9/6/2019 3:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
(RV) Rice improves to 4-0 for the first time since 2005
HOUSTON – After dropping their first set of the season, the Rice Owls volleyball team responded by reeling off three consecutive wins to defeat Loyola Marymount 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-23) Friday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse in the Adidas Invitational home opener.
The Owls, who are receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, remained undefeated on the season and moved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2005 season.
Rice recorded season-highs in kills (54), hitting percentage (.331), digs (74) and total blocks (12.0). Five different Owls totaled at least three or more blocks, led by a match-high five rejections from senior middle blocker Grace Morgan.
Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon posted her third double-double of the season and led all players with 18 kills (.333) to go along with 12 digs. She also added three blocks for a total of 19.5 points. Sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle tied her season-high with 11 kills while hitting a season-best .500 (11-of-20) and also contributed four blocks.
Seniors Lee Ann Cunningham (20 digs) and Tabitha Brown (12 digs) joined Lennon with double-figure kills and played a big role in the Owls limiting LMU (2-2) to a season-low .179 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
LMU led for a majority of the opening frame and eventually handed the Owls their first setback of the season with a 25-21 loss. Rice pulled to within 20-19 late following a kill from Lennon, but the Lions answered back by scoring five of the next seven points. The Owls hit a match-low .237 in the set while LMU was at their best, hitting .378 as a team.
Set 2
The Owls responded in a big way in set two, scoring the first point and never relinquishing the lead. Rice received a boost off the bench from freshman outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer, who recorded four kills to go along with a solo block. Adekunle added three kills and two blocks and the Owls hit an efficient .417 en route to a 25-13 match-tying victory.
Set 3
Rice carried that momentum into set three and performed even better on the offensive end with a .452 hitting percentage that included 16 kills on 31 attacks. Lennon was an unstoppable force in the third, contributing eight kills on 10 attacks and the Owls never looked back after taking a 14-13 lead, eventually winning 25-21.
Set 4
The Owls won a very competitive final frame, 25-23, but not before there were 10 ties and five lead changes. Rice held match point 24-20 but LMU rattled off three consecutive points before the Owls put the match away on one of Morgan's four kills on the afternoon.
Up Next
The Owls and LMU meet again on Saturday at noon from Tudor Fieldhouse on day two of the Rice Adidas Invitational before the nightcap against Abilene Christian at 7 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls, who are receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, remained undefeated on the season and moved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2005 season.
Rice recorded season-highs in kills (54), hitting percentage (.331), digs (74) and total blocks (12.0). Five different Owls totaled at least three or more blocks, led by a match-high five rejections from senior middle blocker Grace Morgan.
Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon posted her third double-double of the season and led all players with 18 kills (.333) to go along with 12 digs. She also added three blocks for a total of 19.5 points. Sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle tied her season-high with 11 kills while hitting a season-best .500 (11-of-20) and also contributed four blocks.
Seniors Lee Ann Cunningham (20 digs) and Tabitha Brown (12 digs) joined Lennon with double-figure kills and played a big role in the Owls limiting LMU (2-2) to a season-low .179 hitting percentage.
Set 1
LMU led for a majority of the opening frame and eventually handed the Owls their first setback of the season with a 25-21 loss. Rice pulled to within 20-19 late following a kill from Lennon, but the Lions answered back by scoring five of the next seven points. The Owls hit a match-low .237 in the set while LMU was at their best, hitting .378 as a team.
Set 2
The Owls responded in a big way in set two, scoring the first point and never relinquishing the lead. Rice received a boost off the bench from freshman outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer, who recorded four kills to go along with a solo block. Adekunle added three kills and two blocks and the Owls hit an efficient .417 en route to a 25-13 match-tying victory.
Set 3
Rice carried that momentum into set three and performed even better on the offensive end with a .452 hitting percentage that included 16 kills on 31 attacks. Lennon was an unstoppable force in the third, contributing eight kills on 10 attacks and the Owls never looked back after taking a 14-13 lead, eventually winning 25-21.
Set 4
The Owls won a very competitive final frame, 25-23, but not before there were 10 ties and five lead changes. Rice held match point 24-20 but LMU rattled off three consecutive points before the Owls put the match away on one of Morgan's four kills on the afternoon.
The Owls and LMU meet again on Saturday at noon from Tudor Fieldhouse on day two of the Rice Adidas Invitational before the nightcap against Abilene Christian at 7 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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