Saturday, September 23
Tulsa, OK
3 p.m.
Rice University
8-4,2-0AAC
3
at
2
Tulsa
8-5,1-1AAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Rice
28
20
24
29
15
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Tulsa
26
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27
9
2
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Rallies to Defeat Tulsa in Five Sets
9/23/2023 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Tulsa, Okla. – The Rice Volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win a five-set defensive battle, 3-2 (28-26, 20-25, 24-26, 29-27, 15-9) at Tulsa, Saturday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The Owls (8-4, 2-0) had a .184 hitting percentage while Tulsa (8-5, 1-1) was held to .167. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led the squad with 17 kills and added six digs. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska recorded her third double-double, recording a season-high 15 kills and adding 18 digs.
Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske hit .220 on 14 kills and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe had a career-high 11 kills. Sophomore setter Darby Harris had her fifth double-double of the year with career-highs of 46 assists and 28 digs.
Defensively, senior libero Nia McCardell tied a season-high with 33 digs, her second 30-dig performance this year and the fifth of her career.
The match saw 37 ties and 21 lead changes.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"That was truly a defensive battle by both teams. Tulsa really showed up today and played a great match. We had to fight so hard to win a point. I'm proud of our grit and composure which we will certainly need again tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice took a close affair, 28-26, as neither team led by more than four points. The Owls led for the majority of the match before an 8-2 run gave Tulsa a 22-19 lead. Rice came right back, scoring five of the next six points. After the Golden Hurricane scored two straight, the Owls closed out the set with four out of five points. Courtley hit .400 on seven kills and Maruska had eight kills with a .300 hitting percentage.
Second Set
Tulsa grabbed the second set, 25-20. Rice jumped out to an 8-4 lead. But the Golden Hurricane went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-8 lead. Rice battled back to take tie the set at 17. However, after a Tulsa timeout, it closed the set on an 8-3 run. Knobbe hit .571 (4 kills/7 attempts) to lead the Owls.
Third Set
TU took the lead with a 26-24 win. Rice took a 15-11, but Tulsa went on a 7-1 run. Rice retook the lead with four straight points. The set then saw five straight ties before the Golden Hurricane scored two straight to win the set. Weske had three kills on six attempts for a .333 hitting percentage.
Fourth Set
Rice tied the match with a thrilling come-from-behind 29-27 victory. Tulsa ran out to a 13-6 lead. After four straight points by the Owls, Tulsa pushed its lead out to 20-14. Rice, though, went on a 9-3 run to tie the set at 23. Rice staved off three match points, and while trailing, 27-26, a kill by Weske and two straight by Courtley gave the Owls the victory to tie the match. Weske led the Owls with four kills and Courtley added three.
Fifth Set
Rice never led up as it took the set and the match, 15-9. The Owls jumped out to a 6-2 lead and, after a Tulsa timeout, extended it to 9-4. The teams then traded the next nine points before the Owls closed out the set and the match, 15-9. Lola Foord was a perfect 4-of-4 (1.000 hitting) and Weske hit .667 (4 kills/6 attempts).
UP NEXT
Rice will go for the weekend sweep when it faces Tulsa in a rematch tomorrow, September 24. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Owls (8-4, 2-0) had a .184 hitting percentage while Tulsa (8-5, 1-1) was held to .167. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led the squad with 17 kills and added six digs. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska recorded her third double-double, recording a season-high 15 kills and adding 18 digs.
Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske hit .220 on 14 kills and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe had a career-high 11 kills. Sophomore setter Darby Harris had her fifth double-double of the year with career-highs of 46 assists and 28 digs.
Defensively, senior libero Nia McCardell tied a season-high with 33 digs, her second 30-dig performance this year and the fifth of her career.
The match saw 37 ties and 21 lead changes.
"That was truly a defensive battle by both teams. Tulsa really showed up today and played a great match. We had to fight so hard to win a point. I'm proud of our grit and composure which we will certainly need again tomorrow."
First Set
Rice took a close affair, 28-26, as neither team led by more than four points. The Owls led for the majority of the match before an 8-2 run gave Tulsa a 22-19 lead. Rice came right back, scoring five of the next six points. After the Golden Hurricane scored two straight, the Owls closed out the set with four out of five points. Courtley hit .400 on seven kills and Maruska had eight kills with a .300 hitting percentage.
Second Set
Tulsa grabbed the second set, 25-20. Rice jumped out to an 8-4 lead. But the Golden Hurricane went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-8 lead. Rice battled back to take tie the set at 17. However, after a Tulsa timeout, it closed the set on an 8-3 run. Knobbe hit .571 (4 kills/7 attempts) to lead the Owls.
Third Set
TU took the lead with a 26-24 win. Rice took a 15-11, but Tulsa went on a 7-1 run. Rice retook the lead with four straight points. The set then saw five straight ties before the Golden Hurricane scored two straight to win the set. Weske had three kills on six attempts for a .333 hitting percentage.
Fourth Set
Rice tied the match with a thrilling come-from-behind 29-27 victory. Tulsa ran out to a 13-6 lead. After four straight points by the Owls, Tulsa pushed its lead out to 20-14. Rice, though, went on a 9-3 run to tie the set at 23. Rice staved off three match points, and while trailing, 27-26, a kill by Weske and two straight by Courtley gave the Owls the victory to tie the match. Weske led the Owls with four kills and Courtley added three.
Fifth Set
Rice never led up as it took the set and the match, 15-9. The Owls jumped out to a 6-2 lead and, after a Tulsa timeout, extended it to 9-4. The teams then traded the next nine points before the Owls closed out the set and the match, 15-9. Lola Foord was a perfect 4-of-4 (1.000 hitting) and Weske hit .667 (4 kills/6 attempts).
UP NEXT
Rice will go for the weekend sweep when it faces Tulsa in a rematch tomorrow, September 24. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
Tulsa
Kills
75
66
Errors
33
27
Attempts
229
234
Hitting %
.183
.167
Points
92.0
86.0
Assists
73
60
Aces
6
9
Blocks
11
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballRS
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