Saturday, November 12
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
11:00 A.M. CT
Rice University
-233,131 CUSA
3
at
0
Middle Tennessee
-1513,410 CUSA
1
2
3
F
Rice
25
28
25
3
Middle Tenn.
18
26
23
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
No. 21 Volleyball Sweeps Regular Season Finale at Middle Tennessee
11/12/2022 1:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Murfreesboro, Tenn. – The No. 21 Rice Owls volleyball team closed out the regular season in style, sweeping Middle Tennessee, 3-0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-23), Saturday afternoon at Alumni Memorial Gym.
Rice (23-3, 13-1) picked up its sixth sweep in the last seven matches and its 14th of the year. The Owls hit .321 and Middle Tennessee was held to .277.
Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle hit .542 (15-for-24) and had five blocks while senior Ellie Bichelmeyer was 15-of-28 (.357).
Fifth year setter Carly Graham led all players with 43 assists and added eight digs. Junior libero Nia McCardell had a match-high 15 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"I'm happy that we came out with the sweep. Middle Tennessee had some great swings today that really challenged us but we stayed composed and got it done. Ellie (Bichelmeyer) and Anota (Adekunle) were very efficient and carried the load offensively for us. I would have liked a little more balance but I'm proud of a great C-USA regular season and we are excited for a big week ahead."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice scored three of the first four points but Middle Tennessee tied it at six. With the set tied at 10, Rice used three aces by Darby Harris to go on a 6-0 run. Rice then led 20-14, but Middle Tennessee scored four of the next six points to pull within 22-18. But Rice scored the final three points to take the set, 25-18. Rice hit .469 and Adekunle was 7-of-8 (.875).
Second Set
With the set tied at nine, the Blue Raiders scored four of five points to take a 13-10 lead. But a kill by Satasha Kostelecky sent Rice on a 9-0 run to take its largest lead of the set, 19-13. However, Middle Tennessee scored nine of the next 12 points, taking a 23-22 advantage. Rice jumped ahead before the teams went back-and-forth. But the Owls got the final two points to take the second set, 28-26. Adekunle had six kills and hit .333 while Bichelmeyer had four (.300).
Third Set
Rice scored the first three points of the set but Middle Tennessee battled back to tie it at 11. After Rice took a 19-15 advantage, the Blue Raiders scored seven of the next 10 points, tying the set, 22-22. The Owls scored the next two points. Middle Tennessee cut the lead to one, but Rice won the match on a Blue Raider service error, 25-23.
UP NEXT
Rice will travel to Bowling Green, Ky., for the 2022 Conference USA Championship, Nov. 18-20. Time and opponent are to be determined.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (23-3, 13-1) picked up its sixth sweep in the last seven matches and its 14th of the year. The Owls hit .321 and Middle Tennessee was held to .277.
Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle hit .542 (15-for-24) and had five blocks while senior Ellie Bichelmeyer was 15-of-28 (.357).
Fifth year setter Carly Graham led all players with 43 assists and added eight digs. Junior libero Nia McCardell had a match-high 15 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"I'm happy that we came out with the sweep. Middle Tennessee had some great swings today that really challenged us but we stayed composed and got it done. Ellie (Bichelmeyer) and Anota (Adekunle) were very efficient and carried the load offensively for us. I would have liked a little more balance but I'm proud of a great C-USA regular season and we are excited for a big week ahead."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice scored three of the first four points but Middle Tennessee tied it at six. With the set tied at 10, Rice used three aces by Darby Harris to go on a 6-0 run. Rice then led 20-14, but Middle Tennessee scored four of the next six points to pull within 22-18. But Rice scored the final three points to take the set, 25-18. Rice hit .469 and Adekunle was 7-of-8 (.875).
Second Set
With the set tied at nine, the Blue Raiders scored four of five points to take a 13-10 lead. But a kill by Satasha Kostelecky sent Rice on a 9-0 run to take its largest lead of the set, 19-13. However, Middle Tennessee scored nine of the next 12 points, taking a 23-22 advantage. Rice jumped ahead before the teams went back-and-forth. But the Owls got the final two points to take the second set, 28-26. Adekunle had six kills and hit .333 while Bichelmeyer had four (.300).
Third Set
Rice scored the first three points of the set but Middle Tennessee battled back to tie it at 11. After Rice took a 19-15 advantage, the Blue Raiders scored seven of the next 10 points, tying the set, 22-22. The Owls scored the next two points. Middle Tennessee cut the lead to one, but Rice won the match on a Blue Raider service error, 25-23.
UP NEXT
Rice will travel to Bowling Green, Ky., for the 2022 Conference USA Championship, Nov. 18-20. Time and opponent are to be determined.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
MTSU
Kills
52
39
Errors
17
11
Attempts
109
101
Hitting %
.321
.277
Points
66
54
Assists
47
36
Aces
6
5
Blocks
8
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
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