Saturday, September 7
Houston, TX
12:00 pm CT
Rice University
5-0
3
vs
1
Loyola Marymount
3-3
1
2
3
4
F
LMU
25
19
22
23
1
Rice
22
25
25
25
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
Volleyball Remains Unbeaten, Defeats LMU in Four
9/7/2019 3:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Adekunle records career high 18 kills
HOUSTON – Three players recorded double-figure kills, including a career-high 18 from sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle, to help the Rice Owls volleyball team run their winning streak to five straight to start the season with another 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23) over Loyola Marymount Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
(RV) Rice improved to 5-0 to start a season for the first time since 1998 by outhitting LMU (3-3) .313 to .173 and outgaining the Lions in kills (60-52), digs (60-51) and blocks (7.0-6.0).
In addition to Adekunle, who also led all players with a .571 hitting percentage, junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon tacked on 16 kills while freshman Ellie Bichelmeyer posted a season-high 12 kills on 28 attacks.
The Owls ran an efficient offense thanks to setters Adria Martinez (27 assists) and Carly Graham (21 assists), who combined for 48 assists and three service aces. Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 19 digs while senior middle blocker Grace Morgan recorded three blocks.
RICE HEAD COACH GENNY VOLPE
On the team's mindset through five matches…
"This team is determined to execute at a really high level and of course it doesn't always work out, but at this point we've given up two sets in five matches so we must be doing something pretty well. I can't say enough about each player on the team is really committed to being prepared with lots of energy coming from the sideline. I think when you watch us play you'll see that we feed off of a lot of positive energy. We've used a lot of lineups and called upon different people and everyone's been ready to go when called upon. That's exciting for me as a coach."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Much like on Friday, it was LMU who struck first by winning the first frame 25-22 with a late 4-1 run to close out the set. The Owls erased a 21-17 deficit with four unanswered points to tie the score 21-21 only to see the Lions respond with a run of their own to close out the set.
Set 2
The Owls dug themselves an 11-4 deficit but were able to flip the switch by outscoring the Lions 21-8 the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory. Adekunle tallied five kills, including a stretch of three straight to pull Rice to within 17-16. LMU managed to hold the lead until 19-18 when the Owls poured on seven unanswered points for the win. During that stretch Lennon totaled three kills while Graham posted an ace and a set-sealing kill.
Set 3
Rice broke open a 12-12 tie with a 5-0 run and never looked back en route to a 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 match lead. Bichelmeyer gave the Owls a lift with three kills in the frame and Rice committed just three attack errors in the set.
Set 4
The Owls held match point 24-19 before LMU fought back with four consecutive kills, forcing a Rice timeout. However, Adekunle put an exclamation point on a career afternoon with her 18th and final kill to give the Owls their fifth win of the season.
Up Next
The Owls wrap up the Adidas Invitational tonight at 7 p.m. when they host Abilene Christian (0-4) before traveling crosstown to Houston Baptist on Sept. 10 (6 p.m.).
-RiceOwls.com-
(RV) Rice improved to 5-0 to start a season for the first time since 1998 by outhitting LMU (3-3) .313 to .173 and outgaining the Lions in kills (60-52), digs (60-51) and blocks (7.0-6.0).
In addition to Adekunle, who also led all players with a .571 hitting percentage, junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon tacked on 16 kills while freshman Ellie Bichelmeyer posted a season-high 12 kills on 28 attacks.
The Owls ran an efficient offense thanks to setters Adria Martinez (27 assists) and Carly Graham (21 assists), who combined for 48 assists and three service aces. Defensively, senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham led all players with 19 digs while senior middle blocker Grace Morgan recorded three blocks.
On the team's mindset through five matches…
"This team is determined to execute at a really high level and of course it doesn't always work out, but at this point we've given up two sets in five matches so we must be doing something pretty well. I can't say enough about each player on the team is really committed to being prepared with lots of energy coming from the sideline. I think when you watch us play you'll see that we feed off of a lot of positive energy. We've used a lot of lineups and called upon different people and everyone's been ready to go when called upon. That's exciting for me as a coach."
Set 1
Much like on Friday, it was LMU who struck first by winning the first frame 25-22 with a late 4-1 run to close out the set. The Owls erased a 21-17 deficit with four unanswered points to tie the score 21-21 only to see the Lions respond with a run of their own to close out the set.
Set 2
The Owls dug themselves an 11-4 deficit but were able to flip the switch by outscoring the Lions 21-8 the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory. Adekunle tallied five kills, including a stretch of three straight to pull Rice to within 17-16. LMU managed to hold the lead until 19-18 when the Owls poured on seven unanswered points for the win. During that stretch Lennon totaled three kills while Graham posted an ace and a set-sealing kill.
Set 3
Rice broke open a 12-12 tie with a 5-0 run and never looked back en route to a 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 match lead. Bichelmeyer gave the Owls a lift with three kills in the frame and Rice committed just three attack errors in the set.
Set 4
The Owls held match point 24-19 before LMU fought back with four consecutive kills, forcing a Rice timeout. However, Adekunle put an exclamation point on a career afternoon with her 18th and final kill to give the Owls their fifth win of the season.
The Owls wrap up the Adidas Invitational tonight at 7 p.m. when they host Abilene Christian (0-4) before traveling crosstown to Houston Baptist on Sept. 10 (6 p.m.).
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
LMU
RICE
Kills
52
60
Errors
25
18
Attempts
156
134
Hitting %
.173
.313
Points
67.0
72.0
Assists
51
56
Aces
9
5
Blocks
6.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
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