Sunday, March 14
El Paso, TX
2:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-123,110 CUSA
3
at
1
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UTEP
-55,43 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
21
25
25
25
3
UTEP
25
20
23
22
1
Volleyball Clinches West Division Title
3/14/2021 5:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Owls have won 11 consecutive matches
EL PASO, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team clinched the outright Conference USA West division title with a hard-fought 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22) at UTEP Sunday afternoon.
Rice (12-3, 11-0) remained unbeaten in league play with one final conference match remaining by winning their 11th consecutive match overall. Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with a match-high 17 kills to go along with 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Junior setter Carly Graham also achieved a double-double, her fifth of the year, with 37 assists and 15 digs.
Freshman pin Danyle Courtley gave the Owls a huge lift with a career-high 13 kills on 25 attacks with a hitting percentage of .440.
The Owls outhit UTEP (5-5, 4-3) by a margin of .273-.213 and totaled a season-high 11 service aces, including three apiece from Lennon and Anota Adekunle.
Postgame Reaction – Rice Head Coach Genny Volpe
"That was definitely a battle. There were some rallies that were incredible. Both sides put their heart and soul out on the floor. I'm really proud of how the team rallied together and found a way to win as a team. We had to work very hard and I see the same thing for tomorrow. We will rest up and be prepared for another big challenge against a very solid UTEP team."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
UTEP closed the opening set strong with a 9-5 advantage down the stretch to win 25-21. Lennon kept the Owls close with five kills but the Miners were able to hang on by hitting .262 as a team.
Set 2
Rice bounced back from the loss with a stellar defensive performance, holding the Miners to a .100 hitting clip in a 25-20 victory. Ellie Bichelmeyer and Lennon contributed three kills apiece.
Set 3
In the all-important swing game, the Owls rallied from a 14-7 deficit to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 match advantage. Lennon and Courtley each recorded four kills and Rice outhit UTEP, .323-.273. The Miners led 20-16 but the Owls outscored them 9-3 the rest of the way.
Set 4
In a game that saw 13 ties and five lead changes, it was Rice who prevailed for a 25-22 victory to clinch the match. Lennon (5 kills) and Courtley (4 kills) led the way offensively as the Owls hit .320 as a team.
Up Next
The Owls and Miners will faceoff once again tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT on CUSAtv in Rice's conference finale.
Rice (12-3, 11-0) remained unbeaten in league play with one final conference match remaining by winning their 11th consecutive match overall. Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led all players with a match-high 17 kills to go along with 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Junior setter Carly Graham also achieved a double-double, her fifth of the year, with 37 assists and 15 digs.
Freshman pin Danyle Courtley gave the Owls a huge lift with a career-high 13 kills on 25 attacks with a hitting percentage of .440.
The Owls outhit UTEP (5-5, 4-3) by a margin of .273-.213 and totaled a season-high 11 service aces, including three apiece from Lennon and Anota Adekunle.
"That was definitely a battle. There were some rallies that were incredible. Both sides put their heart and soul out on the floor. I'm really proud of how the team rallied together and found a way to win as a team. We had to work very hard and I see the same thing for tomorrow. We will rest up and be prepared for another big challenge against a very solid UTEP team."
Set 1
UTEP closed the opening set strong with a 9-5 advantage down the stretch to win 25-21. Lennon kept the Owls close with five kills but the Miners were able to hang on by hitting .262 as a team.
Set 2
Rice bounced back from the loss with a stellar defensive performance, holding the Miners to a .100 hitting clip in a 25-20 victory. Ellie Bichelmeyer and Lennon contributed three kills apiece.
Set 3
In the all-important swing game, the Owls rallied from a 14-7 deficit to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 match advantage. Lennon and Courtley each recorded four kills and Rice outhit UTEP, .323-.273. The Miners led 20-16 but the Owls outscored them 9-3 the rest of the way.
Set 4
In a game that saw 13 ties and five lead changes, it was Rice who prevailed for a 25-22 victory to clinch the match. Lennon (5 kills) and Courtley (4 kills) led the way offensively as the Owls hit .320 as a team.
The Owls and Miners will faceoff once again tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT on CUSAtv in Rice's conference finale.
-RiceOwls.com-
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Team Stats
Rice
UTEP
Kills
51
52
Errors
16
22
Attempts
128
141
Hitting %
.273
.213
Points
72
67
Assists
43
45
Aces
11
10
Blocks
10
5
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
3
Blocks
3
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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