Friday, December 2
Waco, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-274,131 CUSA
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at
3
No. 17 Baylor
25-6,12-4Big 12
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2
3
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5
F
Rice
25
22
23
25
11
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Baylor
16
25
25
14
15
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Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
No. 20 Volleyball Falls to No. 17 Baylor, 3-2, in NCAA Tournament Second Round
12/2/2022 10:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Waco, Texas – The No. 20 and fifth-seeded Rice Owls volleyball team battled in a thrilling five-set match, but in the end, came up just short, falling to No. 17 Baylor, 3-2 (25-16, 22-25, 23-25, 25-14, 11-15), in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Friday night from the Ferrell Center.
Rice (27-4) hit .289 and Baylor (25-6) hit .243. Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle led all players with 22 kills (.419), her third match this year with at least 20 kills, and also tied the Rice record for most kills by an Owl in an NCAA Tournament match. Junior Danyle Courtley recorded her first career double-double with 15 kills and a career-high 12 digs.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham led all players with 56 assists, her eighth match this year with at least 50 assists. Junior Ellie Bichelmeyer had 14 kills (.393) and junior Nia McCardell and freshman Gaby Mansfield each had 17 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"I'm really proud of this team. I'm proud of how we executed. I thought we executed at a high level. They followed the game plan. The did everything that we asked of them and more. Anyone that was here saw a team that never gave up. They fight all of the time. They play for each other. They're talented. But talent only takes you so far. There's just so much more to this group and I'm very, very proud of them."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The set started with both teams trading points. With Baylor leading 7-6, Rice went on a 7-1 run, taking a 12-8 lead. Baylor cut the deficit to 15-12, but the Owls went on a 9-3 run to take their largest lead of the set at 24-15. Two points later, Adekunle finished it off with a kill to win, 25-16.
Second Set
BU jumped out to a 4-1 lead, Rice scored eight of the next 12 points to go in front, 9-8. The teams went back-and-forth, as their were 11 ties in the set. With it tied at 17, the Owls got two straight to take the lead. However, after a timeout, Baylor closed the set on a 6-1 run to tie the match, 25-22.
Third Set
The teams battled to an early five-all tie. Baylor scored three of the next four points, but the Owls went on a 7-3 run, taking a 13-11 lead. With the match tied at 16, a Baylor 4-1 run gave it a three-point lead. Rice cut the deficit to 22-21 before the Bears went ahead 24-21. Rice brought it to within one, but a kill by Elise McGhee gave BU the 25-23 victory,
Fourth Set
Rice took control of the set early on, opening an 8-2 lead. Baylor scored five of seven points, but the Owls went on a 7-1 run to take a 17-8 advantage. Rice extended its lead to as many as 11 before a kill by Adekunle finished out a 25-14 win.
Fifth Set
Rice was forced to play from behind as Baylor shot out to a 6-1 lead. The Bears extended the lead to 10-6 before Rice scored six of the next nine points, pulling to within 13-10. But BU recorded two of the final three points for a 15-11 victory.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (27-4) hit .289 and Baylor (25-6) hit .243. Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle led all players with 22 kills (.419), her third match this year with at least 20 kills, and also tied the Rice record for most kills by an Owl in an NCAA Tournament match. Junior Danyle Courtley recorded her first career double-double with 15 kills and a career-high 12 digs.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham led all players with 56 assists, her eighth match this year with at least 50 assists. Junior Ellie Bichelmeyer had 14 kills (.393) and junior Nia McCardell and freshman Gaby Mansfield each had 17 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"I'm really proud of this team. I'm proud of how we executed. I thought we executed at a high level. They followed the game plan. The did everything that we asked of them and more. Anyone that was here saw a team that never gave up. They fight all of the time. They play for each other. They're talented. But talent only takes you so far. There's just so much more to this group and I'm very, very proud of them."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The set started with both teams trading points. With Baylor leading 7-6, Rice went on a 7-1 run, taking a 12-8 lead. Baylor cut the deficit to 15-12, but the Owls went on a 9-3 run to take their largest lead of the set at 24-15. Two points later, Adekunle finished it off with a kill to win, 25-16.
Second Set
BU jumped out to a 4-1 lead, Rice scored eight of the next 12 points to go in front, 9-8. The teams went back-and-forth, as their were 11 ties in the set. With it tied at 17, the Owls got two straight to take the lead. However, after a timeout, Baylor closed the set on a 6-1 run to tie the match, 25-22.
Third Set
The teams battled to an early five-all tie. Baylor scored three of the next four points, but the Owls went on a 7-3 run, taking a 13-11 lead. With the match tied at 16, a Baylor 4-1 run gave it a three-point lead. Rice cut the deficit to 22-21 before the Bears went ahead 24-21. Rice brought it to within one, but a kill by Elise McGhee gave BU the 25-23 victory,
Fourth Set
Rice took control of the set early on, opening an 8-2 lead. Baylor scored five of seven points, but the Owls went on a 7-1 run to take a 17-8 advantage. Rice extended its lead to as many as 11 before a kill by Adekunle finished out a 25-14 win.
Fifth Set
Rice was forced to play from behind as Baylor shot out to a 6-1 lead. The Bears extended the lead to 10-6 before Rice scored six of the next nine points, pulling to within 13-10. But BU recorded two of the final three points for a 15-11 victory.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
Baylor
Kills
72
63
Errors
22
22
Attempts
173
169
Hitting %
.289
.243
Points
82
76.5
Assists
63
58
Aces
2
2
Blocks
8
11.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
22
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
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