Thursday, April 1
Hattiesburg, MS
5 P.M. CT
Rice University
-154,130 CUSA
3
vs
0
Middle Tennessee (Quarterfinals)
-511,49 CUSA
1
2
3
F
Middle Tenn.
16
24
12
0
Rice
25
26
25
3
Photo by: CUSA
Owls Sweep Blue Raiders, Advance to C-USA Semifinals
4/1/2021 7:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice to face Charlotte on Friday
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The No. 24 ranked Rice Owls volleyball team opened up the 2021 Conference USA Spring Championship with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 26-24, 25-12) over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the Thursday's quarterfinals.
Rice (15-4) advanced to Friday's semifinals where they'll face Charlotte (13-4) at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Owls turned in one of their most efficient offensive performances of the year against the Blue Raiders (5-11), hitting a season-best .424 with 46 kills on 92 attacks. The freshly minted C-USA Player of the Year Nicole Lennon led the team with 13 kills (.321) and led all players with 14.5 points. First Team All-Conference middle blocker Anota Adekunle also recorded double-figure kills (10) and hit a sensational .643 while freshman Sahara Maruska added nine kills and a team-best nine digs.
Junior Carly Graham, the C-USA Setter of the Year, distributed 34 assists over the three sets to go along with five kills and five digs.
Defensively the Owls held MT to a .146 hitting percentage and forced 21 attacks errors.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
After six ties and two lead changes the Owls took the lead for good at 12-11 on one of Lennon's team-high six kills in the opening game. The senior hit .455 for the frame and the Owls hit .393 as a team with Graham dishing out 10 assists. The Blue Raiders committed nine errors in the set and Rice closed the set on a 6-0 run to win 25-16.
Set 2
The Owls rallied from a 21-19 and broke a 24-24 tie to win 26-24 to take a 2-0 match lead. Maruska came alive with five kills on nine attacks while Lennon added four more kills in a set in which the Owls outhit the Blue Raiders, .333-.282. Graham contributed 15 more assists on 17 Rice kills and the Owls had a 70% sideout rate.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in a dominant performance in the final game, outhitting MT by a margin of .600-.094. Adekunle totaled five kills in the frame while Ellie Bichelmeyer, Lennon, and Graham all contributed three kills apiece.
Up Next
The Owls will face Charlotte on Friday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Rice (15-4) advanced to Friday's semifinals where they'll face Charlotte (13-4) at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Owls turned in one of their most efficient offensive performances of the year against the Blue Raiders (5-11), hitting a season-best .424 with 46 kills on 92 attacks. The freshly minted C-USA Player of the Year Nicole Lennon led the team with 13 kills (.321) and led all players with 14.5 points. First Team All-Conference middle blocker Anota Adekunle also recorded double-figure kills (10) and hit a sensational .643 while freshman Sahara Maruska added nine kills and a team-best nine digs.
Junior Carly Graham, the C-USA Setter of the Year, distributed 34 assists over the three sets to go along with five kills and five digs.
Defensively the Owls held MT to a .146 hitting percentage and forced 21 attacks errors.
Set 1
After six ties and two lead changes the Owls took the lead for good at 12-11 on one of Lennon's team-high six kills in the opening game. The senior hit .455 for the frame and the Owls hit .393 as a team with Graham dishing out 10 assists. The Blue Raiders committed nine errors in the set and Rice closed the set on a 6-0 run to win 25-16.
Set 2
The Owls rallied from a 21-19 and broke a 24-24 tie to win 26-24 to take a 2-0 match lead. Maruska came alive with five kills on nine attacks while Lennon added four more kills in a set in which the Owls outhit the Blue Raiders, .333-.282. Graham contributed 15 more assists on 17 Rice kills and the Owls had a 70% sideout rate.
Set 3
Rice never trailed in a dominant performance in the final game, outhitting MT by a margin of .600-.094. Adekunle totaled five kills in the frame while Ellie Bichelmeyer, Lennon, and Graham all contributed three kills apiece.
The Owls will face Charlotte on Friday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
MTSU
RICE
Kills
36
46
Errors
21
7
Attempts
103
92
Hitting %
.146
.424
Points
40.0
54.0
Assists
35
41
Aces
4
3
Blocks
0.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
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