Friday, October 15
Ruston, LA
6:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-105,50 CUSA
3
at
0
Louisiana Tech
-615,07 CUSA
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
25
25
3
Louisiana Tech
16
18
20
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Sweep Lady Techsters in Ruston
10/15/2021 8:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Five consecutive wins for West Division leaders
RUSTON, LA – The Rice Owls volleyball team returned from their extended break following a bye week without missing a beat, sweeping the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters in three sets (25-16, 25-18, 25-20) Friday evening at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Rice (10-5, 5-0) won their fifth consecutive match by outhitting the Lady Techsters (6-15, 0-7) by a margin of .287-.190. The Owls outgained Tech in kills (47-37), digs (68-50) and total team blocks (5.0-3.0).
The Owls posed a balanced scoring attack with three players totaling 10 or more kills, led by a match-high 13 kills from middle blocker Anota Adekunle. The junior hit .591 on 22 attacks while also posing a threat at the net defensively with four blocks. Nicole Lennon (11 kills) and Ellie Bichelmeyer (10 kills) joined Adekunle in double-figures.
Junior setter Carly Graham picked up her eighth double-double of the year with a match-high in both assists (39) and digs (15). Graham also contributed three of Rice's seven service aces.
Junior Elizabeth LaBue collected 13 digs for the Owls, her 11th match with 10 or more digs and fifth straight overall. Lennon added 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the season while Sahara Maruska also totaled 10 digs.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"Overall I thought Carly did a great job running a balanced offense today. It's what we have been working on. Anota really shined today in transition the whole match. We want to be better defensively and it starts at the net. We will look to sharpen that up tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice led from start to finish as they limited the Lady Techsters to a .081 hitting percentage and took advantage of six Tech attack errors on their way to a 25-16 victory. Adekunle began the match on fire with six kills on seven attacks while Bichelmeyer helped provide a potent 1-2 punch with five kills of her own. Graham was masterful in the frame with 13 assists, five digs, and three consecutive aces.
Second Set
The Owls outscored Tech 15-8 down the stretch to erase a 10-9 Lady Techsters lead and win 25-18. Adekunle poured in four more kills on seven attacks while fellow middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky provided three more kills off the bench on three attacks. Rice hit .333 for the frame and held Tech to just a .179 clip.
Third Set
Tech battled the Owls much of the set and played Rice to an 18-18 tie before the Owls closed on a 7-2 run to put the game away, 25-20. Lennon came alive with seven kills on 13 attacks and Adekunle added four additional kills as Rice posted their best offensive frame with a .366 hitting percentage. Graham gave out 15 assists to go along with six digs.
UP NEXT
The Owls and Lady Techsters will meet again tomorrow at 1 p.m. on CUSAtv.
Rice (10-5, 5-0) won their fifth consecutive match by outhitting the Lady Techsters (6-15, 0-7) by a margin of .287-.190. The Owls outgained Tech in kills (47-37), digs (68-50) and total team blocks (5.0-3.0).
The Owls posed a balanced scoring attack with three players totaling 10 or more kills, led by a match-high 13 kills from middle blocker Anota Adekunle. The junior hit .591 on 22 attacks while also posing a threat at the net defensively with four blocks. Nicole Lennon (11 kills) and Ellie Bichelmeyer (10 kills) joined Adekunle in double-figures.
Junior setter Carly Graham picked up her eighth double-double of the year with a match-high in both assists (39) and digs (15). Graham also contributed three of Rice's seven service aces.
Junior Elizabeth LaBue collected 13 digs for the Owls, her 11th match with 10 or more digs and fifth straight overall. Lennon added 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the season while Sahara Maruska also totaled 10 digs.
"Overall I thought Carly did a great job running a balanced offense today. It's what we have been working on. Anota really shined today in transition the whole match. We want to be better defensively and it starts at the net. We will look to sharpen that up tomorrow."
First Set
Rice led from start to finish as they limited the Lady Techsters to a .081 hitting percentage and took advantage of six Tech attack errors on their way to a 25-16 victory. Adekunle began the match on fire with six kills on seven attacks while Bichelmeyer helped provide a potent 1-2 punch with five kills of her own. Graham was masterful in the frame with 13 assists, five digs, and three consecutive aces.
Second Set
The Owls outscored Tech 15-8 down the stretch to erase a 10-9 Lady Techsters lead and win 25-18. Adekunle poured in four more kills on seven attacks while fellow middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky provided three more kills off the bench on three attacks. Rice hit .333 for the frame and held Tech to just a .179 clip.
Third Set
Tech battled the Owls much of the set and played Rice to an 18-18 tie before the Owls closed on a 7-2 run to put the game away, 25-20. Lennon came alive with seven kills on 13 attacks and Adekunle added four additional kills as Rice posted their best offensive frame with a .366 hitting percentage. Graham gave out 15 assists to go along with six digs.
The Owls and Lady Techsters will meet again tomorrow at 1 p.m. on CUSAtv.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
LATech
Kills
47
37
Errors
14
14
Attempts
115
121
Hitting %
.287
.190
Points
59.0
42.0
Assists
46
32
Aces
7
2
Blocks
5.0
3.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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