Friday, September 29
Houston, TX
6 p.m.
Rice University
10-4,4-0AAC
3
vs
0
UTSA
8-7,1-3AAC
1
2
3
F
UTSA
12
21
18
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Rice Wins Sixth Straight with Sweep of UTSA
9/29/2023 8:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – The Rice Volleyball team came out strong, hitting .317 in a straight sets sweep of UTSA, 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-18), Friday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (10-4, 4-0) held UTSA (8-7, 1-3) to just .077 hitting on their way to their sixth-straight victory.
Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley had a match-high 16 kills and hit .382. Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske hit a season-high .478 behind 12 kills while adding five digs and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe hit .308 (7 kills/13 attempts). Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska added seven kills and 13 digs.
Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded her third straight double-double and seventh of the year with 33 assists and 12 digs.
Defensively, senior libero Nia McCardell led all players with 21 digs and added four assists.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"From an efficiency standpoint, this was one of the best matches we have played all season. I'm proud of our focus from start to finish. It's good to see the things we have been working on in practice come to fruition. We know UTSA will come back strong and we expect a battle tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice used a big run midway through the set to take a 25-12 win. With the Roadrunners holding a 7-6 lead, Rice went on a 10-1 run. After trading points, closed the set on an 8-2 run. The Owls outhit UTSA, .351-to-.077. Maruska (4 kills/7 attempts) hit. 571 and Courtley (4 kills/8 attempts) hit .500.
Second Set
Rice took a close second set, 25-21. UTSA led, 7-6, but four straight points forced a Roadrunner timeout as the Owls to a 10-7 lead. UTSA came back to tie it at 14. But Rice pushed its lead back to 17-14. The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 20-19, but Rice closed the set scoring five of the final seven points. The Owls hit .298 for the set, led by Courtley with nine kills on 17 attempts (.471). Weske also hit .500 (3 kills/6 attempts).
Third Set
The Owls closed out the match with a 25-18 win. They scored the first four points of the set, but UTSA tied it at eight. Rice bounced back with a 5-1 run before the Roadrunners cut the deficit to 13-12. The Owls then went on a 5-0 run. The teams went back-forth for the rest of the match before Knobbe and Weske combined on a block to finish the match. Weske hit .556 (6 kills/9 attempts) and fifth-year middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky hit .750 (3 kills/4 attempts).
UP NEXT
Rice will go for the weekend sweep when it faces UTSA in a rematch tomorrow, September 30. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Owls (10-4, 4-0) held UTSA (8-7, 1-3) to just .077 hitting on their way to their sixth-straight victory.
Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley had a match-high 16 kills and hit .382. Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske hit a season-high .478 behind 12 kills while adding five digs and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe hit .308 (7 kills/13 attempts). Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska added seven kills and 13 digs.
Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded her third straight double-double and seventh of the year with 33 assists and 12 digs.
Defensively, senior libero Nia McCardell led all players with 21 digs and added four assists.
"From an efficiency standpoint, this was one of the best matches we have played all season. I'm proud of our focus from start to finish. It's good to see the things we have been working on in practice come to fruition. We know UTSA will come back strong and we expect a battle tomorrow."
First Set
Rice used a big run midway through the set to take a 25-12 win. With the Roadrunners holding a 7-6 lead, Rice went on a 10-1 run. After trading points, closed the set on an 8-2 run. The Owls outhit UTSA, .351-to-.077. Maruska (4 kills/7 attempts) hit. 571 and Courtley (4 kills/8 attempts) hit .500.
Second Set
Rice took a close second set, 25-21. UTSA led, 7-6, but four straight points forced a Roadrunner timeout as the Owls to a 10-7 lead. UTSA came back to tie it at 14. But Rice pushed its lead back to 17-14. The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 20-19, but Rice closed the set scoring five of the final seven points. The Owls hit .298 for the set, led by Courtley with nine kills on 17 attempts (.471). Weske also hit .500 (3 kills/6 attempts).
Third Set
The Owls closed out the match with a 25-18 win. They scored the first four points of the set, but UTSA tied it at eight. Rice bounced back with a 5-1 run before the Roadrunners cut the deficit to 13-12. The Owls then went on a 5-0 run. The teams went back-forth for the rest of the match before Knobbe and Weske combined on a block to finish the match. Weske hit .556 (6 kills/9 attempts) and fifth-year middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky hit .750 (3 kills/4 attempts).
UP NEXT
Rice will go for the weekend sweep when it faces UTSA in a rematch tomorrow, September 30. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
UTSA
Rice
Kills
29
51
Errors
19
13
Attempts
130
120
Hitting %
.077
.317
Points
34.0
60.0
Assists
24
43
Aces
1
2
Blocks
4
7
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballRS
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