Monday, March 15
El Paso, TX
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-133,120 CUSA
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UTEP
-56,44 CUSA
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Rice
25
27
25
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UTEP
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Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Win 12th Straight, Finish C-USA Season Unbeaten
3/15/2021 3:37:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice sweeps UTEP to complete 12-0 conference regular season
EL PASO, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team accomplished a feat on Monday that no team in program history had ever accomplished — finish a conference season undefeated.
Rice (13-3, 12-0) reeled off their 12th consecutive victory with a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 27-25, 25-19) of the UTEP Miners, tying Morehead St. for the fifth-longest active win streak in the nation. The Owls 12-match win streak ties the 1995 Rice team for the third-longest winning streak in program history.
The C-USA West division champions put together a strong defensive performance on Monday, holding the Miners (5-6, 4-4) to a .045 hitting percentage. The Owls used a balanced offensive attack led by nine kills from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon and eight kills by junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle. Junior setter Carly Graham tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs while Elizabeth LaBue and Lennon contributed 12 digs apiece.
The Owls will now have 17 days to prepare for the C-USA Championships, which will be held April 1-3 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Between now and then, Rice will host No. 6 Baylor this Friday, Mar. 19 at 6 p.m. and then travel to Austin to face the No. 2 Texas Longhorns next Tuesday, Mar. 23 at 4 p.m.
Postgame Reaction – Rice Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm so proud of this team. This was a complete team effort. Everyone was ready to go and help this team win. This season has had its challenges but we're showing so much grit, determination, and focus. We're all excited for the Big 12 matches ahead of us and the conference championship."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
After falling behind 7-4, the Owls went on a tear with a 15-2 run to break the game open and win 25-13. The Owls posted 4.0 team blocks while Adekunle added four kills in a set in which Rice hit .371 as a team. LaBue posted seven digs while Lennon added six and Rice held UTEP to a .04 hitting clip.
Set 2
Rice led for much of the second game but UTEP rallied late with a 7-2 run to take a 25-24 advantage. The Owls responded with three consecutive points on a kill from Adekunle, an ace from Tia Grippo and a set-clinching UTEP error to win 27-25. Lennon added six more kills in the frame.
Set 3
Defense was the Owls ingredient in game three, holding the Miners to a -.154 hitting percentage behind a solid block at the net, generating 3.0 team blocks.
Up Next
The Owls return home for their final home match of the season, a showdown against No. 6 Baylor from Tudor Fieldhouse on Friday, Mar. 19 at 6 p.m.
Rice (13-3, 12-0) reeled off their 12th consecutive victory with a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 27-25, 25-19) of the UTEP Miners, tying Morehead St. for the fifth-longest active win streak in the nation. The Owls 12-match win streak ties the 1995 Rice team for the third-longest winning streak in program history.
The C-USA West division champions put together a strong defensive performance on Monday, holding the Miners (5-6, 4-4) to a .045 hitting percentage. The Owls used a balanced offensive attack led by nine kills from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon and eight kills by junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle. Junior setter Carly Graham tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs while Elizabeth LaBue and Lennon contributed 12 digs apiece.
The Owls will now have 17 days to prepare for the C-USA Championships, which will be held April 1-3 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Between now and then, Rice will host No. 6 Baylor this Friday, Mar. 19 at 6 p.m. and then travel to Austin to face the No. 2 Texas Longhorns next Tuesday, Mar. 23 at 4 p.m.
"I'm so proud of this team. This was a complete team effort. Everyone was ready to go and help this team win. This season has had its challenges but we're showing so much grit, determination, and focus. We're all excited for the Big 12 matches ahead of us and the conference championship."
Set 1
After falling behind 7-4, the Owls went on a tear with a 15-2 run to break the game open and win 25-13. The Owls posted 4.0 team blocks while Adekunle added four kills in a set in which Rice hit .371 as a team. LaBue posted seven digs while Lennon added six and Rice held UTEP to a .04 hitting clip.
Set 2
Rice led for much of the second game but UTEP rallied late with a 7-2 run to take a 25-24 advantage. The Owls responded with three consecutive points on a kill from Adekunle, an ace from Tia Grippo and a set-clinching UTEP error to win 27-25. Lennon added six more kills in the frame.
Set 3
Defense was the Owls ingredient in game three, holding the Miners to a -.154 hitting percentage behind a solid block at the net, generating 3.0 team blocks.
The Owls return home for their final home match of the season, a showdown against No. 6 Baylor from Tudor Fieldhouse on Friday, Mar. 19 at 6 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
Kills
37
29
Errors
16
24
Attempts
107
110
Hitting %
.196
.045
Points
50.0
40.0
Assists
32
29
Aces
5
7
Blocks
8.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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