Sunday, November 21
Norfolk, Va.
10:00 A.M. CT
Rice University
-196,130 CUSA
1
vs
3
No. 18 WKU (Championship)
-271,120 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Western Ky.
16
25
25
25
3
Rice
25
14
22
20
1
Photo by: Keith Lucas/Sideline Media
Owls Fall to No. 18 WKU in C-USA Championship
11/21/2021 1:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon, Graham, and Bichelmeyer named to All-Tournament Team
NORFOLK, Va. – The Rice Owls volleyball team went toe-to-toe with No. 18 WKU in the C-USA Championship but the Hilltoppers proved to be too much in a 3-1 loss (25-16, 14-25, 22-25, 20-25) Sunday afternoon at the ODU Volleyball Center.
Rice (19-6, 12-0) saw their 14-match winning streak come to an end despite another double-double from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, who registered 17 kills and 15 digs and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the Owls was senior setter Carly Graham, who dished out 48 assists to go along with nine digs on Sunday. Junior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer was the third Owl to earn a spot on the squad and contributed 10 kills while hitting .292.
WKU (27-1, 12-0) won their 20th consecutive match behind tournament MVP Lauren Matthews' 21-kill/4-block performance.
The two teams hit an identical .317 for the match but the Hilltoppers posted more kills (62-55) and had a slight advantage in sideout percentage, 64.6-57.8.
The C-USA Championship performance was the fourth straight for the Owls and the seventh in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls came out on fire and handed WKU their worst loss of the season with a 25-16 victory. Rice hit a staggering .615 as a team with 17 kills on just 26 attacks. Lennon led the way with eight kills while Graham distributed 16 assists.
Second Set
WKU flipped the script in the second game with a 25-14 victory of their own to regain the momentum. The Hilltoppers hit .457 as a team while Rice hit just .167.
Third Set
The Hilltoppers held on for a 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 match lead. Rice pulled to within 22-21 on a combo block from Lennon/Shaylee Shore but WKU outscored the Owls 3-1 the rest of the way to secure the win.
Fourth Set
WKU clinched the match with a 25-20 win as they limited Rice to a .194 hitting clip and 12 kills. The Hilltoppers used a 6-2 run to close out both the game and the match.
UP NEXT
The Owls will learn their postseason fate on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, which will air on Sunday, Nov. 28 on ESPNU with a time still to be determined.
Rice (19-6, 12-0) saw their 14-match winning streak come to an end despite another double-double from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, who registered 17 kills and 15 digs and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the Owls was senior setter Carly Graham, who dished out 48 assists to go along with nine digs on Sunday. Junior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer was the third Owl to earn a spot on the squad and contributed 10 kills while hitting .292.
WKU (27-1, 12-0) won their 20th consecutive match behind tournament MVP Lauren Matthews' 21-kill/4-block performance.
The two teams hit an identical .317 for the match but the Hilltoppers posted more kills (62-55) and had a slight advantage in sideout percentage, 64.6-57.8.
The C-USA Championship performance was the fourth straight for the Owls and the seventh in program history.
First Set
The Owls came out on fire and handed WKU their worst loss of the season with a 25-16 victory. Rice hit a staggering .615 as a team with 17 kills on just 26 attacks. Lennon led the way with eight kills while Graham distributed 16 assists.
Second Set
WKU flipped the script in the second game with a 25-14 victory of their own to regain the momentum. The Hilltoppers hit .457 as a team while Rice hit just .167.
Third Set
The Hilltoppers held on for a 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 match lead. Rice pulled to within 22-21 on a combo block from Lennon/Shaylee Shore but WKU outscored the Owls 3-1 the rest of the way to secure the win.
Fourth Set
WKU clinched the match with a 25-20 win as they limited Rice to a .194 hitting clip and 12 kills. The Hilltoppers used a 6-2 run to close out both the game and the match.
The Owls will learn their postseason fate on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, which will air on Sunday, Nov. 28 on ESPNU with a time still to be determined.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
WestKy
Rice
Kills
62
55
Errors
17
15
Attempts
142
126
Hitting %
.317
.317
Points
77
65
Assists
61
54
Aces
7
0
Blocks
8
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB/RS
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