Saturday, January 30
Dallas, TX
2:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-13,00 CUSA
0
at
3
SMU
2-0,0-0AAC
1
2
3
F
Rice
20
23
20
0
SMU
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
SMU Defeats Owls in Three Sets
1/30/2021 4:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon records 22 kills for second straight match
DALLAS – Rice senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon recorded a match-high 22 kills for a second straight match but it wasn't enough to overcome the SMU Mustangs in a 3-0 loss (20-25, 23-25, 20-25) by the Owls' volleyball team Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.
The Owls (1-3) hit just .207 as a team while the Mustangs (2-0) posted a .296 hitting clip and committed 11 fewer attacking errors.
Lennon carried the offensive load for the Owls with the 22 kills on 49 attacks (.306) and totaled 44 kills on 103 attacks over the eight sets against the Mustangs for the weekend. Junior setter Carly Graham assisted on 35 of Rice's 46 kills while freshman Nia McCardell led all players with 14 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The two teams played to five ties but Rice never took the lead in a 25-20 setback. The Owls got as close as 20-18 but SMU outscored Rice 5-2 down the stretch. Lennon posted six kills in the frame while fellow freshman Danyle Courtley contributed five kills on six attacks. Amazingly, Graham assisted on 15 of Rice's 17 kills.
Set 2
Looking to even the match, Rice built a 20-13 advantage only for SMU to storm back with a 12-3 run. Lennon added seven more kills in the frame but SMU hit .351 in the set and Rachel Woulfe and Hannah Jacobs combined for nine kills in a 25-23 SMU win.
Set 3
Lennon had her best set of the match with nine kills on 16 attacks but the Owls committed six attacking errors and four service errors in a 25-20 loss.
Up Next
The Owls will begin Conference USA play next weekend, Feb. 7-8 when they host Louisiana Tech (0-6) for a pair of matches at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (1-3) hit just .207 as a team while the Mustangs (2-0) posted a .296 hitting clip and committed 11 fewer attacking errors.
Lennon carried the offensive load for the Owls with the 22 kills on 49 attacks (.306) and totaled 44 kills on 103 attacks over the eight sets against the Mustangs for the weekend. Junior setter Carly Graham assisted on 35 of Rice's 46 kills while freshman Nia McCardell led all players with 14 digs.
Set 1
The two teams played to five ties but Rice never took the lead in a 25-20 setback. The Owls got as close as 20-18 but SMU outscored Rice 5-2 down the stretch. Lennon posted six kills in the frame while fellow freshman Danyle Courtley contributed five kills on six attacks. Amazingly, Graham assisted on 15 of Rice's 17 kills.
Set 2
Looking to even the match, Rice built a 20-13 advantage only for SMU to storm back with a 12-3 run. Lennon added seven more kills in the frame but SMU hit .351 in the set and Rachel Woulfe and Hannah Jacobs combined for nine kills in a 25-23 SMU win.
Set 3
Lennon had her best set of the match with nine kills on 16 attacks but the Owls committed six attacking errors and four service errors in a 25-20 loss.
The Owls will begin Conference USA play next weekend, Feb. 7-8 when they host Louisiana Tech (0-6) for a pair of matches at Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
SMU
Kills
46
44
Errors
21
10
Attempts
121
115
Hitting %
.207
.296
Points
53.0
54.0
Assists
45
42
Aces
3
2
Blocks
4.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
22
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
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