Rice University
13-6,7-2AAC
SMU
15-6,9-1AAC
Rice Drops First Match to SMU, 3-1
10/20/2023 9:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DALLAS, Texas — Rice volleyball fell in the first of two matches to SMU on Friday night, 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18).
The Owls (13-6, 7-2 AAC) hit .212 on the match and totaled 56 kills with 53 assists. Defensively, Rice recorded eight total blocks and 72 digs. SMU hit .211 in the match with 55 kills and recorded 12 total blocks and 67 digs.
Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske again led the Owls in kills, finishing with 19 with a .313 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley finished with 13 kills, narrowly missing a double-double with nine digs. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska led the team with 21 digs, recording a double-double with 11 kills. Sophomore setter Darby Harris also recorded a double-double with 11 digs and a team-high 39 assists. Graduate senior middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky led the team with four total blocks on the night, also scoring a team-high two service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Mustangs began the match with a 4-0 run, grabbing and maintaining a lead through the remainder of the first set. After falling behind by as many as six points at 18-12, the Owls stormed back with a 9-4 run to trim the deficit to a single point. The comeback ultimately fell short, however, as SMU claimed the first stanza, 25-23.
Second Set
The Owls responded by hitting .250 in the second set to tie the match at one set apiece. After a back-and-forth affair in which neither team led by more than three points, Rice closed on a 7-2 run featuring four kills by Weske to win the second set, 25-23.
Third Set
The third set again proved a tight battle as Rice jumped out to multiple three-point leads in the early stages before SMU tied the score at 12. The Mustangs kept momentum to build a 21-17 lead before the Owls responded with a 4-0 run to again square the match. SMU closed the set with a 3-0 spurt to take the lead in the match with a 25-22 victory.
Fourth Set
SMU took early control of the fourth set with a 6-2 run following a 2-2 tie. The Mustangs led by as many nine at 20-11 before Rice rallied with a 4-0 to cut into the lead. Despite another 3-0 Owl run, the Mustangs used a four-point blitz to clinch the match with a 25-18 win in the final set.
UP NEXT
Rice (13-6, 7-2 AAC) remains in Dallas for a second match against SMU (15-6, 9-1 AAC) on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. (CT).
