Friday, November 19
Norfolk, Va.
11:00 A.M. CT
Rice University
-185,130 CUSA
3
vs
1
Charlotte (First Round)
-1213,58 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Charlotte
19
26
20
16
1
Rice
25
24
25
25
3
Photo by: CUSA
Owls Advance to C-USA Semifinals
11/19/2021 2:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Four Owls register double-figures in kills
NORFOLK, Va. – The Rice Owls Volleyball team pushed their winning streak to 13 consecutive matches and advanced to the Conference USA Championship semifinals with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16) over the Charlotte 49ers Friday afternoon at the ODU Volleyball Center.
Rice (18-5, 12-0) will next face the winner of North Texas/Middle Tennessee on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT) on ESPN+.
The Owls had four players register double-figures in kills, led by a match-high 21 kills from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, who also tied Elizabeth LaBue for the team lead with 14 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Sophomore Sahara Maruska provided a massive boost for the Owls off the bench with 15 kills (.333), matching her career-high, while junior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer added 13 kills (.571) to go along with five blocks.
Senior middle blocker Anota Adekunle came on strong late offensively with seven kills in the final frame to reach 10 kills for the match to go along with her team-leading six blocks.
Senior setter Carly Graham, freshly named C-USA Setter of the Year, ran a Rice offense that hit a sensational .321 for the match with 50 assists (12.5 per set) across four games.
The Owls held Charlotte (12-13, 5-7) to just .153 hitting and outgained the 49ers in kills (63-47), digs (57-43), and team blocks (11.0-8.0).
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"This was a complete team effort. Charlotte played very well today and challenged us like we knew they would. We had really solid balance, which I believe is our greatest strength. I think it's why we have been successful to this point. We just need to keep recognizing that and working to progress with each match we play."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice pulled away from the 49ers midway through the set en route to a 25-19 victory. After six ties in the early going, the Owls opened up a lead up the lead behind a stellar offensive performance from Lennon. The C-USA First Team All-Conference awardee totaled nine kills on 13 attacks (.538) in the set and the Owls posted an 85 percent sideout rate while hitting .310.
Second Set
Charlotte was able to tie the match with a 26-24 victory, holding off a late rally by the Owls after they had managed to even the score at 24-24. The 49ers hit .400 as a team and were able to stave off the Owls despite seven kills from Maruska and six kills apiece by Lennon and Bichelmeyer. Graham totaled 16 assists in the game.
Third Set
Rice won the critical tie-breaking set 25-20 behind a defensive effort that saw the Owls hold the 49ers to a .000 hitting percentage. Adekunle has a pair of blocks in the game, one solo, while LaBue contributed five digs. The Owls outscored the 49ers 6-3 down the stretch to gain separation from a 19-17 advantage.
Fourth Set
The Owls closed the match in style with one of their best sets of the season, defeating Charlotte 25-16 behind a .419 hitting clip. The Owls also totaled 5.0 team blocks with Adekunle contributing on both sides of the net with seven kills and four blocks, two of which were of the solo variety.
UP NEXT
Rice will play again tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT) against the winner of North Texas/Middle Tennessee in the C-USA semifinals. Should the Owls come out victorious, they would then advance to the championship match on Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT). Both matches are streamed on ESPN+.
Rice (18-5, 12-0) will next face the winner of North Texas/Middle Tennessee on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT) on ESPN+.
The Owls had four players register double-figures in kills, led by a match-high 21 kills from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, who also tied Elizabeth LaBue for the team lead with 14 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Sophomore Sahara Maruska provided a massive boost for the Owls off the bench with 15 kills (.333), matching her career-high, while junior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer added 13 kills (.571) to go along with five blocks.
Senior middle blocker Anota Adekunle came on strong late offensively with seven kills in the final frame to reach 10 kills for the match to go along with her team-leading six blocks.
Senior setter Carly Graham, freshly named C-USA Setter of the Year, ran a Rice offense that hit a sensational .321 for the match with 50 assists (12.5 per set) across four games.
The Owls held Charlotte (12-13, 5-7) to just .153 hitting and outgained the 49ers in kills (63-47), digs (57-43), and team blocks (11.0-8.0).
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"This was a complete team effort. Charlotte played very well today and challenged us like we knew they would. We had really solid balance, which I believe is our greatest strength. I think it's why we have been successful to this point. We just need to keep recognizing that and working to progress with each match we play."
First Set
Rice pulled away from the 49ers midway through the set en route to a 25-19 victory. After six ties in the early going, the Owls opened up a lead up the lead behind a stellar offensive performance from Lennon. The C-USA First Team All-Conference awardee totaled nine kills on 13 attacks (.538) in the set and the Owls posted an 85 percent sideout rate while hitting .310.
Second Set
Charlotte was able to tie the match with a 26-24 victory, holding off a late rally by the Owls after they had managed to even the score at 24-24. The 49ers hit .400 as a team and were able to stave off the Owls despite seven kills from Maruska and six kills apiece by Lennon and Bichelmeyer. Graham totaled 16 assists in the game.
Third Set
Rice won the critical tie-breaking set 25-20 behind a defensive effort that saw the Owls hold the 49ers to a .000 hitting percentage. Adekunle has a pair of blocks in the game, one solo, while LaBue contributed five digs. The Owls outscored the 49ers 6-3 down the stretch to gain separation from a 19-17 advantage.
Fourth Set
The Owls closed the match in style with one of their best sets of the season, defeating Charlotte 25-16 behind a .419 hitting clip. The Owls also totaled 5.0 team blocks with Adekunle contributing on both sides of the net with seven kills and four blocks, two of which were of the solo variety.
Rice will play again tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT) against the winner of North Texas/Middle Tennessee in the C-USA semifinals. Should the Owls come out victorious, they would then advance to the championship match on Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT). Both matches are streamed on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
CLT
Rice
Kills
47
63
Errors
26
20
Attempts
137
134
Hitting %
.153
.321
Points
59
77
Assists
41
61
Aces
4
3
Blocks
8
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
MB
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