Rice University
18-10,12-6AAC
Wichita State
20-8,14-4AAC
Volleyball Posts 3-1 Win Over Wichita State on Senior Day
11/18/2023 6:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball returned to the win column on Saturday at the Tudor Fieldhouse, dispatching Wichita State, 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-22).
The Owls (18-10, 12-6 AAC) hit .247 with 61 kills on 59 assists. Defensively, Rice registered eight total blocks and 75 digs. The Owls held the Shockers to a hitting percentage of .163 with 52 kills and 48 assists. Wichita State recorded nine blocks and 63 digs.
Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske topped 20 kills for the second consecutive match, finishing with a double-double of 21 kills and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley added 14 kills on a .265 hitting percentage alongside four blocks. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska made it three Owls over 10 kills, ending with 11 kills plus a team-high two service aces. Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded another double-double, leading the team in both digs and assists with 20 and 51, respectively. Senior libero Nia McCardell added 19 digs while sophomore defensive specialist Gaby Mansfield finished 16 digs. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe finished with four blocks, tying for the team lead with Courtley, in addition to six kills on 12 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Sophomore middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana came off the bench to add three blocks and five kills.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Head coach Genny Volpe
Post-game reaction
"I'm really proud of how our team played a complete match. Everyone was locked in. Everyone was ready to go. And we had some key contributions from players off the bench that made an immediate impact. This was one of the best team wins that I have experienced here at Rice and I'm just really proud of how we dug deep after an emotionally draining loss yesterday."
On Rice's senior class
"I can't say enough about this senior class and what they have done for Rice volleyball. They are leaving a legacy of a team-first mentality and have achieved so many firsts for the program."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The visiting Shockers continued their momentum from Friday night, opening the match with a 7-3 lead to force a Rice timeout. Out of the huddle, the Owls surged back with a 7-4 stretch of their own. Wichita State again jumped in front with a 5-1 run and Rice again answered with a 4-0 burst to trim the deficit to one point. The Owls were unable to erase the disadvantage entirely, however, as Wichita State claimed set one, 25-23.
Second Set
The Owls responded in set two. After the two sides battled to a 6-6 tie in the early stages, Rice stormed the Shockers with a 5-0 run with sophomore outside hitter Taylor Johnson at the service line. After Wichita State trimmed Rice's lead to three points, the Owls again sparked fire with a 10-2 run to effectively clinch the set, 25-13, and tie the match at one set apiece. Rice hit .429 with 11 kills on set two, adding four blocks and two aces in the dominant set victory.
Third Set
The third set was a battle through as neither squad led by more than two points during the frame before a kill from Weske put Rice up, 12-10. The Shockers then responded with a 5-0 run to retake the lead. Rice again fought back with a 4-1 spurt to tie the set once again. With the score knotted at 19, a 4-0 run featuring a pair of kills each from Weske and Maruska shifted control to the Owls before another Weske kill clinched the set for the home side, 25-21.
Fourth Set
The Owls took control early in set four and never trailed. A 5-0 run with Harris at the service line put Rice up 10-5. The Shockers responded with separate runs of 4-0 and 6-2, trimming Rice's advantage to as few as one point at 23-22. A block assist from Courtley and Ogunlana preceded a kill from freshman outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa to secure the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-1. The Owls hit .309 in the final set, recording 17 kills on 17 assists. Rice was also a perfect 1.000 on 23 receiving attempts.
UP NEXT
Rice (18-10, 12-6 AAC) heads to Tampa, Florida, to conclude the regular season at South Florida (18-11, 12-6 AAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 11:30 a.m. (CT).
