Sunday, October 2
Houston, TX
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-141,40 CUSA
3
vs
1
Florida Atlantic
-106,04 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Fla. Atlantic
18
14
26
17
1
Rice
25
25
24
25
3
No. 22 Rice Wins Battle of the Owls
10/2/2022 4:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Extends winning streak to 10 straight matches
HOUSTON – The No. 22 ranked Rice Owls volleyball team won their 29th consecutive C-USA regular season match dating back to 2019 with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 24-26, 25-17) victory Sunday afternoon over Florida Atlantic at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Rice (14-1, 4-0), who has matched the 2019 Owls' team for the best record through 15 matches, posted their second-best hitting percentage (.347) of the season while totaling 55 kills on 124 attacks.
Three Owls recorded double-figure kills, led by a season-high 17 kills from junior outside hitter Sahara Maruska, who hit .359 on 39 attacks. Senior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer matched a season-high with 14 kills while hitting a sizzling .444 while junior outside hitter Danyle Courtley contributed 10 kills while hitting .381.
Junior libero Nia McCardell led all players with 19 digs and was a key member of a Rice defense that held their opponent to a hitting percentage below .200 for a 10th straight match.
Rice matched a season-high with 10 service aces, coming on the heels of nine aces on Friday at North Texas.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham dished out 33 assists while also contributing three kills, four digs, and an ace.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice set the tone for the match in the opening frame by hitting .609 for the game in a 25-18 victory. The Owls totaled 15 kills on 23 attacks with six different players totaling two or more kills. Rice used a 9-3 run down the stretch to break away from FAU after leading just 16-15.
Second Set
Courtley and Maruska totaled four kills each as Rice continued to pour it on with another efficient offensive performance, hitting .424 as a team. Rice built a 15-8 lead and never looked back in a 25-14 win. The Owls also added four service aces in the game, two by Maruska.
Third Set
FAU rallied from a 24-18 deficit by scoring the game's final eight points to win 26-24. FAU leaned on Valeria Rosado in the frame, who led all players with seven kills. Rice hit just .118 for the game.
Fourth Set
Rice responded with a 25-17 match-clinching victory after the Owls scored 10 of the game's first 11 points. Maruska (7 kills) and Bichelmeyer (6 kills) totaled 13 of Rice's 16 kills while Graham distributed 12 assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls have just one match next week, a Saturday road match at UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 8 in El Paso. First serve is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on CUSAtv.
Rice (14-1, 4-0), who has matched the 2019 Owls' team for the best record through 15 matches, posted their second-best hitting percentage (.347) of the season while totaling 55 kills on 124 attacks.
Three Owls recorded double-figure kills, led by a season-high 17 kills from junior outside hitter Sahara Maruska, who hit .359 on 39 attacks. Senior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer matched a season-high with 14 kills while hitting a sizzling .444 while junior outside hitter Danyle Courtley contributed 10 kills while hitting .381.
Junior libero Nia McCardell led all players with 19 digs and was a key member of a Rice defense that held their opponent to a hitting percentage below .200 for a 10th straight match.
Rice matched a season-high with 10 service aces, coming on the heels of nine aces on Friday at North Texas.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham dished out 33 assists while also contributing three kills, four digs, and an ace.
First Set
Rice set the tone for the match in the opening frame by hitting .609 for the game in a 25-18 victory. The Owls totaled 15 kills on 23 attacks with six different players totaling two or more kills. Rice used a 9-3 run down the stretch to break away from FAU after leading just 16-15.
Second Set
Courtley and Maruska totaled four kills each as Rice continued to pour it on with another efficient offensive performance, hitting .424 as a team. Rice built a 15-8 lead and never looked back in a 25-14 win. The Owls also added four service aces in the game, two by Maruska.
Third Set
FAU rallied from a 24-18 deficit by scoring the game's final eight points to win 26-24. FAU leaned on Valeria Rosado in the frame, who led all players with seven kills. Rice hit just .118 for the game.
Fourth Set
Rice responded with a 25-17 match-clinching victory after the Owls scored 10 of the game's first 11 points. Maruska (7 kills) and Bichelmeyer (6 kills) totaled 13 of Rice's 16 kills while Graham distributed 12 assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls have just one match next week, a Saturday road match at UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 8 in El Paso. First serve is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on CUSAtv.
-RiceOwls.com-
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
FAU
Rice
Kills
48
55
Errors
21
12
Attempts
137
124
Hitting %
.197
.347
Points
55
73
Assists
40
49
Aces
4
10
Blocks
3
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballRice vs. Central Arkansas Highlights
Sunday, August 31
Volleyball Exhibition vs. Houston Post-Match Press Conference
Sunday, August 24
VB Thea Carter Kick Save vs. Wichita State
Monday, August 18
2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25