Friday, September 10
Houston, TX
6:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
3-3
3
vs
0
LSU
2-4
1
2
3
F
LSU
18
23
19
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Win Third Straight with Sweep of LSU
9/10/2021 8:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lennon moves to No. 2 in school history in career kills
HOUSTON – Behind a historical night from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon, the Rice Owls volleyball team recorded their third consecutive win with a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) over the LSU Tigers Friday evening on day one of the Rice Adidas Invitational II.
Lennon recorded a match-high 18 kills (.390) and in the process surpassed Rice legend Sammy Waldron for No. 2 in career kills with 1,831. Lennon now trails only Rebecca Pazo (1,969 kills) for the school's all-time lead in kills.
The Owls (3-3) hit a season-best .320 as a team with 42 kills on 97 attacks while holding LSU (2-4) to a .202 hitting percentage. Rice held an advantage in total digs (42-35), team blocks (6.0-4.0), and sideout percentage (66.0-53.0).
Junior setter Carly Graham earned her fourth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 13 digs while Ellie Bichelmeyer and Sahara Maruska added eight kills apiece to the Rice attack.
Postgame Reaction-Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm proud of how locked in the team was today. It was a solid team effort and our serve and pass game was much stronger today. I'm really proud of Nicole for having a great night offensively and for the team hitting at a .320 clip."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls, who won 25-18, never trailed after taking a 2-1 lead and Lennon caught fire early with five kills in the frame to go along with four kills from Maruska. Graham assisted on 13 of Rice's 14 kills and the Owls outhit the Tigers, .310-.156.
Second Set
The two teams played a competitive second frame that saw nine ties and three lead changes before the Owls secured a 25-23 victory. Lennon added five more kills in the game while Graham helped her own cause offensively with three kills, eight assists and four digs. LSU pulled to within 22-21 late but the Owls received two kills from Lennon and a couple errors from the Tigers to preserve the victory.
Third Set
Lennon saved her best for last with eight kills on 14 attacks in the final frame en route to a 25-19 Rice win. Lennon scored three of the Owls final four points, including her history-making strike on the team's 24th point to move her into No. 2 in the record books. The Owls hit .417 as a team in the set and Graham contributed 14 assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls conclude their five-match homestand on Sunday when they host the Sam Houston Bearkats at 1 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
Lennon recorded a match-high 18 kills (.390) and in the process surpassed Rice legend Sammy Waldron for No. 2 in career kills with 1,831. Lennon now trails only Rebecca Pazo (1,969 kills) for the school's all-time lead in kills.
The Owls (3-3) hit a season-best .320 as a team with 42 kills on 97 attacks while holding LSU (2-4) to a .202 hitting percentage. Rice held an advantage in total digs (42-35), team blocks (6.0-4.0), and sideout percentage (66.0-53.0).
Junior setter Carly Graham earned her fourth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 13 digs while Ellie Bichelmeyer and Sahara Maruska added eight kills apiece to the Rice attack.
"I'm proud of how locked in the team was today. It was a solid team effort and our serve and pass game was much stronger today. I'm really proud of Nicole for having a great night offensively and for the team hitting at a .320 clip."
First Set
The Owls, who won 25-18, never trailed after taking a 2-1 lead and Lennon caught fire early with five kills in the frame to go along with four kills from Maruska. Graham assisted on 13 of Rice's 14 kills and the Owls outhit the Tigers, .310-.156.
Second Set
The two teams played a competitive second frame that saw nine ties and three lead changes before the Owls secured a 25-23 victory. Lennon added five more kills in the game while Graham helped her own cause offensively with three kills, eight assists and four digs. LSU pulled to within 22-21 late but the Owls received two kills from Lennon and a couple errors from the Tigers to preserve the victory.
Third Set
Lennon saved her best for last with eight kills on 14 attacks in the final frame en route to a 25-19 Rice win. Lennon scored three of the Owls final four points, including her history-making strike on the team's 24th point to move her into No. 2 in the record books. The Owls hit .417 as a team in the set and Graham contributed 14 assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls conclude their five-match homestand on Sunday when they host the Sam Houston Bearkats at 1 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
LSU
RICE
Kills
41
42
Errors
19
11
Attempts
109
97
Hitting %
.202
.320
Points
47.0
52.0
Assists
39
40
Aces
2
4
Blocks
4.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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