Sunday, September 12
Houston, TX
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
4-3
3
vs
0
Sam Houston
6-3
1
2
3
F
Sam Houston
21
26
17
0
Rice
25
28
25
3
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Offense Shines in Owls’ Sweep of Sam Houston
9/12/2021 3:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice hits a season-high .384 for fourth straight win
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls volleyball team battled the Sam Houston Bearkats to a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 28-26, 25-17) in a match that saw 32 ties and 15 lead changes Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Rice (4-3) won their fourth consecutive match by hitting a season-best .384 as a team led by a monster offensive performance from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon. Lennon, the Katy, Texas native, registered a match-high 26 kills for the 29th match of 20 or more kills in her career all while hitting a sensational .451 and added 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Freshman outside hitter Sahara Maruska complimented Lennon with a career-high 15 kills on 25 attacks (.520) while junior setter Carly Graham was a maestro guiding the offense with 46 assists (15.3 per set).
The Owls have now won 12 consecutive sets and improved to 4-1 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.
Postgame Reaction-Head Coach Genny Volpe
"Our offense really carried us today. Nicole and Sahara were dominant on the outside. I really thought our team improved defensively in the third set so we were able to extend our lead and close it out in three. We definitely need to continue to have strong focus on improvement each days as we head into a big week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Lennon set the tone from the get-go by amassing nine kills on 14 attacks (.571) in the Owls' 25-21 victory in game one. After 13 ties and six lead changes, the Owls took the lead for good at 15-14 and outscored the Bearkats 11-7 down the stretch for the win. Rice hit .357 for the set and Graham distributed 14 assists while freshman Nia McCardell totaled six digs.
Second Set
The Owls dug themselves a 13-7 deficit but managed to fight all the way back and take a 2-0 match lead with a thrilling 28-26 victory. Lennon totaled 10 more kills on 26 attacks and Maruska added four more kills as Rice outhit the Bearkats, .296-.208. Graham assisted on 16 of the Owls 20 kills and Rice broke a 26-26 tie with a kill from Maruska, followed by a Sam Houston error for the win.
Third Set
Rice was able to put the match away with a 9-0 run in the third frame, separating from a 12-12 tie. The Owls hit a staggering .586 in the set with 19 kills on 29 attacks as Lennon and Maruska each contributed seven kills. Defensively, Rice held the Bearkats to a .143 hitting clip.
UP NEXT
The Owls will partake in the Baylor Classic next week in Waco, first facing the Bears on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. That match will be streamed on ESPN+. The Owls will then take on McNeese on Friday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.
Rice (4-3) won their fourth consecutive match by hitting a season-best .384 as a team led by a monster offensive performance from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon. Lennon, the Katy, Texas native, registered a match-high 26 kills for the 29th match of 20 or more kills in her career all while hitting a sensational .451 and added 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Freshman outside hitter Sahara Maruska complimented Lennon with a career-high 15 kills on 25 attacks (.520) while junior setter Carly Graham was a maestro guiding the offense with 46 assists (15.3 per set).
The Owls have now won 12 consecutive sets and improved to 4-1 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.
"Our offense really carried us today. Nicole and Sahara were dominant on the outside. I really thought our team improved defensively in the third set so we were able to extend our lead and close it out in three. We definitely need to continue to have strong focus on improvement each days as we head into a big week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Lennon set the tone from the get-go by amassing nine kills on 14 attacks (.571) in the Owls' 25-21 victory in game one. After 13 ties and six lead changes, the Owls took the lead for good at 15-14 and outscored the Bearkats 11-7 down the stretch for the win. Rice hit .357 for the set and Graham distributed 14 assists while freshman Nia McCardell totaled six digs.
Second Set
The Owls dug themselves a 13-7 deficit but managed to fight all the way back and take a 2-0 match lead with a thrilling 28-26 victory. Lennon totaled 10 more kills on 26 attacks and Maruska added four more kills as Rice outhit the Bearkats, .296-.208. Graham assisted on 16 of the Owls 20 kills and Rice broke a 26-26 tie with a kill from Maruska, followed by a Sam Houston error for the win.
Third Set
Rice was able to put the match away with a 9-0 run in the third frame, separating from a 12-12 tie. The Owls hit a staggering .586 in the set with 19 kills on 29 attacks as Lennon and Maruska each contributed seven kills. Defensively, Rice held the Bearkats to a .143 hitting clip.
UP NEXT
The Owls will partake in the Baylor Classic next week in Waco, first facing the Bears on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. That match will be streamed on ESPN+. The Owls will then take on McNeese on Friday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
SHSU
RICE
Kills
45
58
Errors
17
10
Attempts
127
125
Hitting %
.220
.384
Points
50.0
68.0
Assists
43
56
Aces
4
1
Blocks
1.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
26
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
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