Saturday, September 7
Houston, TX
7:00 pm CT
Rice University
6-0
3
vs
0
Abilene Christian
0-5
1
2
3
F
ACU
12
12
23
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Lennon Notches 1,000th Career Kill in Win
9/7/2019 9:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Owls improve to 6-0 on season
HOUSTON – Junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon etched her name into the Rice record books by becoming the 17th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career kills and in the process led the Owls to a sweep (25-12, 25-12, 25-23) over Abilene Christian Saturday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (6-0) continued their torrid start to the season by allowing the Wildcats (0-5) to an opponent's season-low 27 kills along with a .071 hitting percentage.
Lennon led all players with 13 kills on 29 attacks for a .310 hitting clip while senior right side Tori Woogk contributed a season-high seven kills. Setters Carly Graham and Adria Martinez dished out 16 assists apiece while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 16 digs.
Rice placed three players on the Adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team with Adekunle earning MVP honors. The sophomore middle blocker totaled 34 kills (3.4 per set) while hitting .475 to go along with six blocks. Lennon (47 kills) and Cunningham (55 digs) were also selected to the team.
The Owls have now started a season 6-0 for just the third time in program history, joining the 1998 and 1987 Rice teams.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
On sweeping the Rice Adidas Invitational…
"I'm really proud, our team played well this weekend. The matches against LMU were tough and they really challenged us today. Then we had a short turnaround and played an Abilene Christian team, whose really hungry for a win and were super scrappy and challenged us in the third set."
RICE JUNIOR NICOLE LENNON
On her 1,000th career kill…
"So far it's just been a great two-plus years for me here at Rice. I feel like this team is all my best friends and support system and are happy for me. I don't think I could have done it without them. I'm just really happy!"
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Rice led start to finish in a convincing 25-12 victory, one in which the Wildcats had 11 attacking errors. The Owls held ACU to a -.167 hitting percentage in the frame.
Set 2
The Owls matched the opening set with another 25-12 victory behind six kills from Lennon. Rice never trailed in the set and scored 12 of the game's first 14 points.
Set 3
Lennon gave the Owls a 4-3 lead with her 1,000th career kill but ACU gave Rice a fight, and took a 23-21 lead late. However, on a night that belonged to Katy, Texas native, Lennon recorded three kills around an ACU attack error to close out a 25-23 Rice victory.
Up Next
The Owls travel crosstown to Houston Baptist on Sept. 10 (6 p.m.) before playing in the Arkansas State Invitational, Sept. 13-14 in Jonesboro, Ark.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls (6-0) continued their torrid start to the season by allowing the Wildcats (0-5) to an opponent's season-low 27 kills along with a .071 hitting percentage.
Lennon led all players with 13 kills on 29 attacks for a .310 hitting clip while senior right side Tori Woogk contributed a season-high seven kills. Setters Carly Graham and Adria Martinez dished out 16 assists apiece while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 16 digs.
Rice placed three players on the Adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team with Adekunle earning MVP honors. The sophomore middle blocker totaled 34 kills (3.4 per set) while hitting .475 to go along with six blocks. Lennon (47 kills) and Cunningham (55 digs) were also selected to the team.
The Owls have now started a season 6-0 for just the third time in program history, joining the 1998 and 1987 Rice teams.
On sweeping the Rice Adidas Invitational…
"I'm really proud, our team played well this weekend. The matches against LMU were tough and they really challenged us today. Then we had a short turnaround and played an Abilene Christian team, whose really hungry for a win and were super scrappy and challenged us in the third set."
RICE JUNIOR NICOLE LENNON
On her 1,000th career kill…
"So far it's just been a great two-plus years for me here at Rice. I feel like this team is all my best friends and support system and are happy for me. I don't think I could have done it without them. I'm just really happy!"
Set 1
Rice led start to finish in a convincing 25-12 victory, one in which the Wildcats had 11 attacking errors. The Owls held ACU to a -.167 hitting percentage in the frame.
Set 2
The Owls matched the opening set with another 25-12 victory behind six kills from Lennon. Rice never trailed in the set and scored 12 of the game's first 14 points.
Set 3
Lennon gave the Owls a 4-3 lead with her 1,000th career kill but ACU gave Rice a fight, and took a 23-21 lead late. However, on a night that belonged to Katy, Texas native, Lennon recorded three kills around an ACU attack error to close out a 25-23 Rice victory.
The Owls travel crosstown to Houston Baptist on Sept. 10 (6 p.m.) before playing in the Arkansas State Invitational, Sept. 13-14 in Jonesboro, Ark.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
ACU
RICE
Kills
27
43
Errors
20
15
Attempts
98
103
Hitting %
.071
.272
Points
33.0
50.0
Assists
25
36
Aces
0
3
Blocks
6.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
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