Saturday, November 6
Houston, TX
2:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
17-5, 12-0
3
vs
0
UTSA
8-16, 5-7
1
2
3
F
UTSA
15
13
19
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Volleyball Completes Perfect C-USA Season
11/6/2021 5:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Owls go 12-0 in league play for second straight year
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls volleyball team put a bow on their Conference USA season on Saturday with a sweep (25-15, 25-13, 25-19) over UTSA at Tudor Fieldhouse to complete their second straight undefeated season within league play.
Rice (17-5, 12-0) clinched the No. 1 seed for the C-USA Championship in the process and now awaits their opening round opponent of the tournament, which will take place Friday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. (CT).
The Owls hold a tiebreaker with East Division champion WKU (23-1, 11-0) by having a higher RPI ranking (No. 24 vs. No. 25) entering this weekend.
The Owls also celebrated clinching their second straight C-USA West Division title in a postgame ceremony, which they had accomplished the previously on the road last weekend at UAB.
Rice was in control for much of Saturday's match as they outhit the Roadrunners (8-16, 5-7) by a margin of .223 to .047 and collected more kills (43-26), assists (39-24), digs (73-46), and team blocks (8.0-7.0).
Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon picked up her 13th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 13 digs in her final scheduled appearance at Tudor Fieldhouse. Junior setter Carly Graham also achieved a double-double with 30 assists and 14 digs while also contributing five blocks.
Sahara Maruska added double-digit kills with 12 while Nia McCardell and Elizabeth LaBue totaled 14 digs apiece to support a Rice defense that has now held eight straight opponents to a sub .200 hitting percentage.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"This was a great weekend. I'm really proud of the team and the coaching staff. We've been working on certain aspects of our game at practice and just constantly trying to improve and we did that in both these matches. We talk all year about being the best versions of ourselves and constantly striving to improve and this group has really embraced that."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Despite hitting just .136 as a team, the Owls managed to defeat the Roadrunners 25-15 as Lennon led the way offensively with six kills, followed by five for Maruska. Rice played stingy defense as UTSA hit -.024 as a team while the Owls totaled 25 digs, with six digs from both Graham and LaBue.
Second Set
Rice cruised to a 25-13 victory by hitting .333 as a team with Lennon adding five more kills. The Owls used an 8-2 run to gain separation and held a 76 percent sideout rate for the game. Graham distributed 12 assists in the win while McCardell led all players with seven digs.
Third Set
The Owls completed the match sweep by winning 25-19 as the Owls closed on a 7-2 run to win 25-19. Lennon totaled four kills and defensively the Owls had another 25-dig set. Freshman Lola Foord gave the Owls a boost off the bench with a pair of kills on three swings.
UP NEXT
The Owls will now await their first round opponent of the Conference USA Championship, which won't take place until Friday, Nov. 19 at noon when Rice will be the No. 1 seed in Norfolk, Va. The C-USA Championship bracket will be released this Sunday at the conclusion of the day's matches.
Rice (17-5, 12-0) clinched the No. 1 seed for the C-USA Championship in the process and now awaits their opening round opponent of the tournament, which will take place Friday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. (CT).
The Owls hold a tiebreaker with East Division champion WKU (23-1, 11-0) by having a higher RPI ranking (No. 24 vs. No. 25) entering this weekend.
The Owls also celebrated clinching their second straight C-USA West Division title in a postgame ceremony, which they had accomplished the previously on the road last weekend at UAB.
Rice was in control for much of Saturday's match as they outhit the Roadrunners (8-16, 5-7) by a margin of .223 to .047 and collected more kills (43-26), assists (39-24), digs (73-46), and team blocks (8.0-7.0).
Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon picked up her 13th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 13 digs in her final scheduled appearance at Tudor Fieldhouse. Junior setter Carly Graham also achieved a double-double with 30 assists and 14 digs while also contributing five blocks.
Sahara Maruska added double-digit kills with 12 while Nia McCardell and Elizabeth LaBue totaled 14 digs apiece to support a Rice defense that has now held eight straight opponents to a sub .200 hitting percentage.
"This was a great weekend. I'm really proud of the team and the coaching staff. We've been working on certain aspects of our game at practice and just constantly trying to improve and we did that in both these matches. We talk all year about being the best versions of ourselves and constantly striving to improve and this group has really embraced that."
🎥 @gennyvolpe shares her thoughts on the Owls completing a second straight 12-0 season in #CUSAVB. #GoOwls👐 x #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/9Lidnhr7DD
— Rice Volleyball (@RiceVolleyball) November 6, 2021
First Set
Despite hitting just .136 as a team, the Owls managed to defeat the Roadrunners 25-15 as Lennon led the way offensively with six kills, followed by five for Maruska. Rice played stingy defense as UTSA hit -.024 as a team while the Owls totaled 25 digs, with six digs from both Graham and LaBue.
Second Set
Rice cruised to a 25-13 victory by hitting .333 as a team with Lennon adding five more kills. The Owls used an 8-2 run to gain separation and held a 76 percent sideout rate for the game. Graham distributed 12 assists in the win while McCardell led all players with seven digs.
Third Set
The Owls completed the match sweep by winning 25-19 as the Owls closed on a 7-2 run to win 25-19. Lennon totaled four kills and defensively the Owls had another 25-dig set. Freshman Lola Foord gave the Owls a boost off the bench with a pair of kills on three swings.
The Owls will now await their first round opponent of the Conference USA Championship, which won't take place until Friday, Nov. 19 at noon when Rice will be the No. 1 seed in Norfolk, Va. The C-USA Championship bracket will be released this Sunday at the conclusion of the day's matches.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
UTSA
RICE
Kills
26
43
Errors
20
18
Attempts
128
112
Hitting %
.047
.223
Points
34.0
54.0
Assists
24
39
Aces
1
3
Blocks
7.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
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