Sunday, February 14
Hattiesburg, MS
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-43,30 CUSA
3
at
0
Southern Miss
-53,01 CUSA
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
25
25
3
Southern Miss.
13
10
15
0
Photo by: Tommy Lavergne
Owls Record Third Straight Sweep
2/14/2021 3:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice defeats Southern Miss in three sets
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Rice Owls volleyball team cruised to their third consecutive sweep with a straight sets victory (25-13, 25-10, 25-15) at Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon.
Rice (4-3, 3-0) led virtually the entire match with just one early lead change and a pair of ties. The Owls outhit Southern Miss (5-3, 0-1) in the Golden Eagles' conference opener by a margin of .293 to -.105 and Rice took advantage of 27 attack errors by USM.
Rice senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with nine kills and five blocks while sophomore right side hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer contributed seven kills. Junior setter Carly Graham totaled 27 assists over three sets while adding seven digs and three blocks.
Freshman Nia McCardell and junior Elizabeth LaBue tied for the team lead with 13 digs apiece.
The Owls dominated possession with a 73 percent sideout rate
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Owls grabbed momentum from the start by jumping out to a 17-6 lead in a set they eventually won 25-13. Bichelmeyer and Sahara Maruska recorded four kills apiece in a frame in which the Owls hit .382 as a team. Graham was spectacular in her distribution with 15 assists on Rice's 16 kills.
Set 2
Rice closed the set on a 15-3 run to win 25-10 to take a 2-0 match lead. Freshman Danyle Courtley led all players with four kills in the set and the Owls' defense held the Golden Eagles to a -.161 hitting percentage.
Set 3
The Owls never let up coming out of the break by capturing a 14-3 lead en route to a 25-15 victory. Rice recorded 4.0 team blocks while USM committed 13 attack errors. Lennon and Satasha Kostelecky contributed three kills apiece.
Up Next
The Owls face the Golden Eagles again tomorrow at 12 p.m. on CUSAtv from the USM Volleyball Center.
Rice (4-3, 3-0) led virtually the entire match with just one early lead change and a pair of ties. The Owls outhit Southern Miss (5-3, 0-1) in the Golden Eagles' conference opener by a margin of .293 to -.105 and Rice took advantage of 27 attack errors by USM.
Rice senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with nine kills and five blocks while sophomore right side hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer contributed seven kills. Junior setter Carly Graham totaled 27 assists over three sets while adding seven digs and three blocks.
Freshman Nia McCardell and junior Elizabeth LaBue tied for the team lead with 13 digs apiece.
The Owls dominated possession with a 73 percent sideout rate
Set 1
The Owls grabbed momentum from the start by jumping out to a 17-6 lead in a set they eventually won 25-13. Bichelmeyer and Sahara Maruska recorded four kills apiece in a frame in which the Owls hit .382 as a team. Graham was spectacular in her distribution with 15 assists on Rice's 16 kills.
Set 2
Rice closed the set on a 15-3 run to win 25-10 to take a 2-0 match lead. Freshman Danyle Courtley led all players with four kills in the set and the Owls' defense held the Golden Eagles to a -.161 hitting percentage.
Set 3
The Owls never let up coming out of the break by capturing a 14-3 lead en route to a 25-15 victory. Rice recorded 4.0 team blocks while USM committed 13 attack errors. Lennon and Satasha Kostelecky contributed three kills apiece.
The Owls face the Golden Eagles again tomorrow at 12 p.m. on CUSAtv from the USM Volleyball Center.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
USM
Kills
37
17
Errors
10
27
Attempts
92
95
Hitting %
.293
-.105
Points
50.0
19.0
Assists
35
17
Aces
4
1
Blocks
9.0
1.0
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
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