Rice University
14-7,8-3AAC
East Carolina
18-5,9-3AAC
Volleyball Outlasts East Carolina in Five-Set Thriller
10/27/2023 8:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball outlasted East Carolina in five sets on Friday at the Tudor Fieldhouse, claiming the victory, 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 18-25, 25-14, 16-14).
The Owls (14-7, 8-3 AAC) hit .218 with 64 kills and 54 assists to snap their three-game skid. Rice recorded 94 digs and eight total blocks on the defensive end. The Owls also set a new season-high with nine service aces. Rice held the visiting Pirates to a .187 hitting percentage on 56 kills and 48 assists.
Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led the Owls with 20 kills on a team-best .391 hitting percentage. Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske finished with a double-double of 15 kills and 12 digs, adding two solo blocks on the night.Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska also recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs plus two aces. Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 40 assists and 12 digs. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe posted a team-high four total blocks, while sophomore defensive specialist Gaby Mansfield led the team with three service aces alongside 15 digs. Senior libero Nia McCardell posted two aces and a team-high 27 digs in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Returning home to kick off a four-match home stand, the Owls took control of the first set with an 11-4 run to turn a slim 9-8 lead into a 20-12 advantage, coasting afterwards to the 25-18 set victory. Rice hit .286 and recorded 23 digs in the first set. Mansfield recorded two of her three service aces in the first set to help Rice gain the early advantage.
Second Set
The two sides alternated the first eight points of the set before the Owls jumped in front with a 4-0 burst. Rice led by four points on multiple occasions during the set, lastly at 21-17, before ECU responded with an 8-2 run to close out the set and tie the match at one apiece.
Third Set
The third set began as the closest affair of the match to that point as neither team led by more than two points before the Pirates built a 15-12 lead. The Owls immediately closed the gap with a 3-0 run with the set seemingly destined for a close finish before ECU used an 8-0 blitz to clinch the set 25-18.
Fourth Set
Facing the possibility of their fourth consecutive defeat, Rice responded in kind with a 6-1 run early in the fourth set to take the lead. After a 4-0 Pirate run erased the Owls' advantage, Rice darted ahead with an 8-0 run with Maruska serving and recording two aces. The Owls rolled through the remainder of the set, including only the third career kill from McCardell, to the 25-14 victory to force a fifth set.
Fifth Set
The Owls made the first move of the deciding set, jumping out to a 2-0 advantage and leading by as many as three points in the first half of the final set. A 6-1 run from ECU seemingly spelled doom for the home squad and the Pirates served twice for match point after leading 14-12. Rice showed its defensive prowess in fighting off multiple attempts before a Courtley kill delivered the serve back to the Owls. Knobbe then anchored the defensive middle with three consecutive blocks, joined by Maruska then junior right side hitter Lola Foord on the first two, respectively, before clinching the match with a solo block to secure the 16-14 win.
UP NEXT
Rice (14-7, 8-3 AAC)remains at the Tudor Fieldhouse to host Temple (15-7, 5-5 AAC) on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. (CT).
