Friday, August 26
Baton Rouge, La
5:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-20,00 CUSA
3
vs
0
Samford
0-2,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
F
Samford
15
23
14
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Owls Record Second Friday Sweep
8/26/2022 7:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Take down Samford 3-0; to face host LSU Saturday at 3 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Rice Owls volleyball team completed a perfect season-opening Friday with their second sweep of the day, defeating the Samford Bulldogs in straight sets (25-15, 25-23, 25-14) at the LSU Tiger Classic.
After sweeping Houston earlier in the day, the Owls used a stingy defense and an efficient offense to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2019 by outhitting Samford .313-.104. Rice held advantages in total kills (43-33), assists (39-29), aces (5-4), blocks (5.0-4.0) and digs (51-39). The Owls also committed nine fewer attack errors (12-21).
Junior outside hitter Sahara Maruska led the Owls with 12 kills for her second straight match with double-figure kills while fifth-year middle blocker Anota Adekunle (9 kills/.467) came up one kill shy of joining Maruska in double-digits.
Fifth-year senior setter Carly Graham totaled a match-high 27 assists while also contributing 6 kills (.750) and 7 digs. Junior libero Nia McCardell led Rice with 12 digs and added a career-high three service aces while freshman Gaby Mansfield (10 digs) recorded her first double-figure digs performance.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm very proud of how our team came out today. We were very focused from the first point against Houston to the last point against Samford. We are working through mistakes, making adjustments, and playing with a lot of competitive energy. Also, we haven't played two matches in one day in two years so I'm extremely happy with how we handled that load. We will need to rest up and prepare for a very physical LSU team tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls never looked back after jumping out to a 10-1 lead on the Bulldogs, winning the opening set 25-15. Rice hit .346 with 12 kills on 26 attacks while holding Samford to just nine kills and a .032 hitting clip. McCardell and freshman Darby Harris each recorded aces while Adekunle led the way with four kills.
Second Set
Samford gave the Owls a scare by rallying from a 17-12 deficit with an 11-3 run to take a 23-20 advantage of their own. However, Rice responded immediately with one of Lola Foord's five kills in the frame, followed by an ace from Mansfield, and a combo block by Foord/Satasha Kostelecky to pull even at 23-23. Out of a Samford timeout, Rice put the game away on a kill from Graham, followed by a Samford attack error to win 25-23.
Third Set
Much like in the opening set, the Owls blitzed the Bulldogs out of the gates with an 8-2 advantage and refused to relinquish the lead. Rice closed out the match with a 25-14 victory in which they held Samford to a -.048 hitting percentage and allowed just eight kills. Maruska anchored the offense with 5 kills while McCardell totaled nine digs and contributed two more aces.
UP NEXT
The Owls (2-0) will look to go 3-0 in Baton Rouge when they face host LSU tomorrow at 3 p.m. That match will be streamed on SEC Network+. Rice swept the Tigers (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) last season at Tudor Fieldhouse.
After sweeping Houston earlier in the day, the Owls used a stingy defense and an efficient offense to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2019 by outhitting Samford .313-.104. Rice held advantages in total kills (43-33), assists (39-29), aces (5-4), blocks (5.0-4.0) and digs (51-39). The Owls also committed nine fewer attack errors (12-21).
Junior outside hitter Sahara Maruska led the Owls with 12 kills for her second straight match with double-figure kills while fifth-year middle blocker Anota Adekunle (9 kills/.467) came up one kill shy of joining Maruska in double-digits.
Fifth-year senior setter Carly Graham totaled a match-high 27 assists while also contributing 6 kills (.750) and 7 digs. Junior libero Nia McCardell led Rice with 12 digs and added a career-high three service aces while freshman Gaby Mansfield (10 digs) recorded her first double-figure digs performance.
"I'm very proud of how our team came out today. We were very focused from the first point against Houston to the last point against Samford. We are working through mistakes, making adjustments, and playing with a lot of competitive energy. Also, we haven't played two matches in one day in two years so I'm extremely happy with how we handled that load. We will need to rest up and prepare for a very physical LSU team tomorrow."
First Set
The Owls never looked back after jumping out to a 10-1 lead on the Bulldogs, winning the opening set 25-15. Rice hit .346 with 12 kills on 26 attacks while holding Samford to just nine kills and a .032 hitting clip. McCardell and freshman Darby Harris each recorded aces while Adekunle led the way with four kills.
Second Set
Samford gave the Owls a scare by rallying from a 17-12 deficit with an 11-3 run to take a 23-20 advantage of their own. However, Rice responded immediately with one of Lola Foord's five kills in the frame, followed by an ace from Mansfield, and a combo block by Foord/Satasha Kostelecky to pull even at 23-23. Out of a Samford timeout, Rice put the game away on a kill from Graham, followed by a Samford attack error to win 25-23.
Third Set
Much like in the opening set, the Owls blitzed the Bulldogs out of the gates with an 8-2 advantage and refused to relinquish the lead. Rice closed out the match with a 25-14 victory in which they held Samford to a -.048 hitting percentage and allowed just eight kills. Maruska anchored the offense with 5 kills while McCardell totaled nine digs and contributed two more aces.
The Owls (2-0) will look to go 3-0 in Baton Rouge when they face host LSU tomorrow at 3 p.m. That match will be streamed on SEC Network+. Rice swept the Tigers (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) last season at Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
SU
Rice
Kills
33
43
Errors
21
12
Attempts
115
99
Hitting %
.104
.313
Points
41
53
Assists
29
39
Aces
4
5
Blocks
4
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ 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