Rice University
13-5,7-1AAC
Florida Atlantic
12-9,4-4AAC
Volleyball Falls to FAU in Five Sets
10/13/2023 9:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball suffered its first loss of AAC play, falling to Florida Atlantic, 3-2 (19-25, 16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-12), on Friday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (13-5, 7-1 AAC) hit .141 on the match and totaled 61 kills while holding FAU to a .109 hitting percentage with 50 kills. Rice finished with 57 assists and 99 digs in the contest, also tying their season-high in total blocks with 15.
Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske led Rice with 27 kills, recording a double-double with 18 digs. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley was second on the team with 14 kills. Sophomore setter Darby Harris also registered a double-double with a career-high 56 assists and 16 digs. Senior defensive specialist Nia McCardell posted a team-high 30 digs and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe led the team with six total blocks, including two solo blocks. Weske and graduate senior middle block Satasha Kostelekcy each also posted three solo blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Gaby Mansfield finished with 17 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls weathered an early run from FAU to tie the set at four before using a quick 4-0 run to take their first lead of the match. Rice would not relinquish the lead over the remainder of the set, maintaining at least a two-point lead the entire time. Holding a 20-18 lead late in the set, the Owls closed the set on a 5-1 run featuring two kills from Kostelecky to take the first set, 25-19.
Second Set
Rice began the second set by building a 4-1 lead before FAU responded with an 11-4 spurt to take a four-point lead at 12-8. After exchanging several points, Rice blitzed the visiting Owls with an 11-0 run to take firm control of the set. The run featured a pair of kills from both Courtley and Weske, plus three total blocks from Knobbe, including two solo stuffs before partnering with Courtley on a third block. With a 23-14 lead following the run, Rice coasted to a 25-16 victory in the set. The Owls hit .222 with 13 kills during the set, also holding FAU to a .000 hitting percentage.
Third Set
Facing an 0-2 hole, FAU made the first move of the third set, quickly building a multi-point lead. The Owls fought back on multiple occasions to trim the deficit to a single point but were unable to entirely erase the margin before a 6-1 FAU run late in the set helped seal the third stanza for the visitors.
Fourth Set
The visiting Owls again took initiative in the fourth set to build an early lead, ultimately leading by as many as six points on multiple occasions. Facing a 19-13 deficit, Rice stormed back with a 9-4 run to trim the lead to one point. A pair of FAU kills, however, clinched the fourth set and sent the match to a deciding fifth set.
Fifth Set
Rice sprung out of the fifth set to build a quick 4-1 lead before a quick 3-0 run by FAU squared the set at 4-4. Rice took a 7-5 lead following a Courtley kill before the visitors pushed in front via a 6-1 run, ultimately staving off several comeback attempts en route to a 15-12 win to clinch the match.
UP NEXT
Rice (13-5, 7-1 AAC) heads to Dallas for a pair of pivotal matches against SMU (13-6, 7-1 AAC) on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. (CT). The two schools are currently tied for first place in the AAC standings.
