Rice University
5-5
No. 1 Texas
8-0
No. 1 Texas Takes Down Owls
9/22/2021 8:21:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Rice concludes non-conference season with 5-5 record
HOUSTON – The No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns volleyball team proved to be too much in a 3-0 sweep (25-14, 25-14, 25-14) over the Rice Owls in front of 2,478 fans Wednesday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse.
For the Owls (5-5), the match marked the conclusion of the non-conference season as they now set their eyes on C-USA action starting this weekend.
Rice, who had defeated the Longhorns in each of the last two meetings, was outhit .388-.042 as Texas never relinquished the lead starting from set one.
Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon led the Owls with 12 kills (.184) while junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle chipped in five kills (.273). Junior setter Carly Graham distributed 24 assists on Rice's 25 kills but the Longhorns totaled 40 kills as team and posted an overall sideout clip of 84 percent.
Texas was led offensively by Logan Eggleston (13 kills-.265) and Brionne Butler (8 kills-.636).
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Lennon totaled seven kills in the opening frame on 16 attacks for a .438 hitting percentage but Rice as a team hit .081 in the 25-14 loss. The Longhorns had four players contribute three or more kills and hit .419 as they raced out to a 15-6 lead and never looked back.
Second Set
The Owls suffered another a second 25-14 loss as they struggled offensively hitting -.065 while the Longhorns held a 92 percent sideout rate. Rice was able to pull to within 15-12 but Texas outscored the Owls 10-2 the rest of the way.
Third Set
Texas once again won 25-14 behind six kills from Eggleston and the Longhorns outhit the Owls, .462-.111. Lennon and Sahara Maruska added three kills apiece and freshman Lola Foord added a pair as well in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Owls start Conference USA play this weekend with a series (Sept. 25-26) at North Texas in Denton. Rice returns home to host UTEP, Oct. 2-3 in the C-USA home-opening series.
-RiceOwls.com-
