Friday, September 30
Denton, TX
6:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-131,30 CUSA
3
at
2
North Texas
-810,21 CUSA
1
2
3
4
5
F
Rice
26
21
25
22
15
3
North Texas
24
25
17
25
7
2
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls Outlast North Texas in Five Sets
9/30/2022 9:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Winning streak goes to nine straight
DENTON, Texas – The No. 22 Rice Owls volleyball team was put to the test but answered the bell when it mattered most, defeating the North Texas Mean Green in five sets (26-24, 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-7) Friday evening at the North Texas Volleyball Center.
Rice (13-1, 3-0) improved to 5-1 in five-set matches this season, four of which have come during their current nine match winning streak.
The Owls used a balanced offensive attack, led by a combined 26 kills from their starting middle blockers. Senior Satasha Kostelecky totaled a career-high 13 kills on 25 attacks (.480) while fifth year middle blocker Anota Adekunle also contributed 13 kills on 29 attacks (.310).
Junior outside hitters Danyle Courtley (12 kills) and Sahara Maruska (11 kills) also reached double-figures.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham notched her fifth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 11 digs while Maruska also recorded her fifth double-double by adding 17 digs to her 11 kills.
The Owls held yet another opponent below a .200 hitting clip, limiting the Mean Green to a .169 hitting percentage. Junior libero Nia McCardell led the Owls with 20, her seventh match this season with 20 or more digs.
Rice outgained the Mean Green in service aces, 9-2, and committed nine fewer errors (33-24).
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"Our offense really never got going today. Credit to North Texas for preparing well and executing defensively. They made us work very hard for our points. Satasha (Kostelecky) was almost unstoppable today. Our passing was really strong most of the night, so our offense should have been cleaner. I was very proud of our mental approach in set five."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls battled back from a 23-21 deficit by outscoring North Texas 5-1 down the stretch to win 26-24. Rice won despite hitting just .162 behind four kills from Kostelecky and three kills apiece by Courtley and Adekunle. Maruska had the game-winning kill after Rice took the lead on an attack error.
Second Set
North Texas led from start to finish in a 25-21 match-tying victory. Rice was held to a .122 clip and 11 kills and had a sideout rate of only 52 percent. Treyaunna Rush and Aryn Johnson led North Texas with four kills apiece.
Third Set
The Owls' defense went to work out of the break, holding North Texas to a .064 hitting percentage. Meanwhile Rice had six different players tally two or more kills in a 25-17 victory. McCardell totaled eight digs in the frame while Graham dished out 10 assists.
Fourth Set
Despite seven ties, North Texas never allowed Rice to take a lead in a 25-22 match-tying victory. Kostelecky totaled six kills on seven attacks in the game but North Texas hit .353 as a team with three different players totaling five kills apiece.
Fifth Set
A motivated Rice team took command of the game after a 3-3 tie, outscoring the Mean Green 12-4 the rest of the way. The Owls hit .462 and Maruska delivered two critical aces while North Texas hit .000.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home on Sunday, Oct. 2 to host Florida Atlantic at 1 p.m. in the annual Dig Pink match.
Rice (13-1, 3-0) improved to 5-1 in five-set matches this season, four of which have come during their current nine match winning streak.
The Owls used a balanced offensive attack, led by a combined 26 kills from their starting middle blockers. Senior Satasha Kostelecky totaled a career-high 13 kills on 25 attacks (.480) while fifth year middle blocker Anota Adekunle also contributed 13 kills on 29 attacks (.310).
Junior outside hitters Danyle Courtley (12 kills) and Sahara Maruska (11 kills) also reached double-figures.
Fifth year setter Carly Graham notched her fifth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 11 digs while Maruska also recorded her fifth double-double by adding 17 digs to her 11 kills.
The Owls held yet another opponent below a .200 hitting clip, limiting the Mean Green to a .169 hitting percentage. Junior libero Nia McCardell led the Owls with 20, her seventh match this season with 20 or more digs.
Rice outgained the Mean Green in service aces, 9-2, and committed nine fewer errors (33-24).
"Our offense really never got going today. Credit to North Texas for preparing well and executing defensively. They made us work very hard for our points. Satasha (Kostelecky) was almost unstoppable today. Our passing was really strong most of the night, so our offense should have been cleaner. I was very proud of our mental approach in set five."
First Set
The Owls battled back from a 23-21 deficit by outscoring North Texas 5-1 down the stretch to win 26-24. Rice won despite hitting just .162 behind four kills from Kostelecky and three kills apiece by Courtley and Adekunle. Maruska had the game-winning kill after Rice took the lead on an attack error.
Second Set
North Texas led from start to finish in a 25-21 match-tying victory. Rice was held to a .122 clip and 11 kills and had a sideout rate of only 52 percent. Treyaunna Rush and Aryn Johnson led North Texas with four kills apiece.
Third Set
The Owls' defense went to work out of the break, holding North Texas to a .064 hitting percentage. Meanwhile Rice had six different players tally two or more kills in a 25-17 victory. McCardell totaled eight digs in the frame while Graham dished out 10 assists.
Fourth Set
Despite seven ties, North Texas never allowed Rice to take a lead in a 25-22 match-tying victory. Kostelecky totaled six kills on seven attacks in the game but North Texas hit .353 as a team with three different players totaling five kills apiece.
Fifth Set
A motivated Rice team took command of the game after a 3-3 tie, outscoring the Mean Green 12-4 the rest of the way. The Owls hit .462 and Maruska delivered two critical aces while North Texas hit .000.
The Owls return home on Sunday, Oct. 2 to host Florida Atlantic at 1 p.m. in the annual Dig Pink match.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
UNT
Kills
59
63
Errors
24
33
Attempts
171
178
Hitting %
.205
.169
Points
78
79
Assists
54
59
Aces
9
2
Blocks
10
14
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
3
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
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