Rice University
17-7,11-3AAC
Tulane
6-20,2-12AAC
Rice Extends Winning Streak to Four Matches with 3-1 Win Over Tulane
11/4/2023 5:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball extended its winning streak to four matches on Saturday afternoon at the Tudor Fieldhouse, defeating Tulane, 3-1 (25-17, 25-16, 13-25, 25-18).
The Owls (17-7, 11-3 AAC) hit .184 with 49 kills on 41 assists. Defensively, Rice posted 78 digs and 12 total blocks, holding the Green Wave to .135 hitting with 45 kills.
Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske led the team with 14 kills, recording a double-double with a team-high 19 digs. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley followed closed behind with 13 digs on a .190 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa also reach double-figures with 10 kills, adding eight digs and three solo blocks. Senior setter Izzy Rawlings posted a team-high 21 assists and sophomore setter Darby Harris added 15 assists off the bench. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe registered a team-high six blocks and senior libero Nia McCardell added 15 digs.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I was glad that we were able to pull out the win even though we didn't play really clean for the entire match. It's that time of the year where we're really going to need to hone in on execution. We talked about that at the end of the game. Next week, we really want to hit the execution factor as we roll into the last five matches of conference that all five are going to be really tough. We need to learn how to work through a match and not have that set two drop-off or set three drop-off that we had yesterday and today. But I'm proud of the team for staying composed and pulling out the win."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Owls took control of the match early in the first set, using a 6-1 run to turn a 5-5 tie into a n 11-6 lead. After a 5-1 run trimmed Rice's lead to three points, the Owls responded with a duo of 3-0 runs en route to a 25-17 win in the opening stanza. Rice recorded five total blocks in the opening set and held the Green Wave to a .025 hitting percentage. Tchouangwa led the Owls with six kills on a .857 hitting percentage in the opening set.
Second Set
The Owls never trailed in the second set, opening with a kill from Weske to take the lead. Tulane tied the set on two occasions in the early stages before Rice used a 4-0 run to generate separation. A late 7-2 run gave the Owls a 23-14 lead and a Courtley kill later finished off the 25-16 win for Rice. The Owls hit .250 during the second set, their highest mark of the match.
Third Set
Tulane opened with a 5-0 run and kept control throughout the third set. The Owls hit only .100 in the set while the Green Wave hit .312 en route to the 25-13 win to extend the match.
Fourth Set
The two sides opened with answering 4-1 runs in the fourth set. With the match tied at 10 apiece, the Owls made their move with a 4-0 run featuring a kill from Weske and an ace from graduate senior middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky. Rice extended their lead as large as 22-14, staving off any Tulane comeback to earn the 25-18 win.
UP NEXT
Rice heads to the road next week for a pair of matches at North Texas on Friday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. (CT), and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. (CT). Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
