Saturday, September 30
Houston, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
11-4,5-0AAC
3
vs
0
UTSA
8-8,1-4AAC
1
2
3
F
UTSA
12
25
23
0
Rice
25
27
25
3
Rice Fends Off UTSA in Straight Sets
9/30/2023 4:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – The Rice Volleyball team needed to dig deep the final two sets to defeat UTSA in straight sets, 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-23), Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (11-4, 5-0) hit .260 while holding UTSA (8-8, 1-4) to .124 hitting as they won their seventh straight match.
Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske had a season-high 19 kills and a .300 hitting percentage while adding six digs and four blocks. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley had 10 kills and hit a match-high .320. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 15 digs.
Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded her fourth straight double-double and eighth of the year with 34 assists and 10 digs. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe had a .375 hitting percentage (3 kills/8 attempts) and fifth-year senior middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky had a match-high five blocks.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm really proud of how the team closed it out in three (sets) today. That was a really tough match. UTSA really put up a fight. They challenged us in every way possible, especially in the last two sets. So to get the sweep is great. To have the balance that we had with the attack, I'm probably most proud of that."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice used a late run to open with a 25-12 win for the second straight day. With the match tied at five, Rice went on a 9-2 run. The Owls held a 16-10 lead when they used another 9-2 run to close out the set. Rice hit .400 in the set, led by Weske, who had a .667 hitting percentage (6 kills/9 attempts). Courtley added five kills on eight attempts to hit .625.
Second Set
After holding a lead, the Owls needed to come back to take a 27-25 win. Rice jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but four straight Roadrunner points tied it up. The Owls then scored five straight, but UTSA scored five of six to pull within one. A 7-2 Rice run gave the Owls their largest lead of the set at 20-14. However, the Roadrunners wouldn't go away, as they used an 11-4 run to grab a 25-24 lead. But the Owls would not be denied, firing off three straight to take the set. Maruska led all players with six kills and nine digs and Weske added five kills.
Third Set
The Owls rallied from an early deficit to take the final set, 25-23. After leading 6-3, UTSA used a 10-3 run to grab its largest lead of the match, 13-9. A 9-2 run gave Rice an 18-15 lead, but the Roadrunners tied the set at 20. After a Rice timeout, kills by Kostelecky and Weske gave Rice a two-point lead. The teams traded points the rest of the way with Weske closing it out. Weske hit .500 in the set behind eight kills on 14 attempts.
UP NEXT
Rice goes back on the road next Friday, October 6, when it travels to Memphis. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Owls (11-4, 5-0) hit .260 while holding UTSA (8-8, 1-4) to .124 hitting as they won their seventh straight match.
Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske had a season-high 19 kills and a .300 hitting percentage while adding six digs and four blocks. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley had 10 kills and hit a match-high .320. Senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 15 digs.
Sophomore setter Darby Harris recorded her fourth straight double-double and eighth of the year with 34 assists and 10 digs. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe had a .375 hitting percentage (3 kills/8 attempts) and fifth-year senior middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky had a match-high five blocks.
"I'm really proud of how the team closed it out in three (sets) today. That was a really tough match. UTSA really put up a fight. They challenged us in every way possible, especially in the last two sets. So to get the sweep is great. To have the balance that we had with the attack, I'm probably most proud of that."
First Set
Rice used a late run to open with a 25-12 win for the second straight day. With the match tied at five, Rice went on a 9-2 run. The Owls held a 16-10 lead when they used another 9-2 run to close out the set. Rice hit .400 in the set, led by Weske, who had a .667 hitting percentage (6 kills/9 attempts). Courtley added five kills on eight attempts to hit .625.
Second Set
After holding a lead, the Owls needed to come back to take a 27-25 win. Rice jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but four straight Roadrunner points tied it up. The Owls then scored five straight, but UTSA scored five of six to pull within one. A 7-2 Rice run gave the Owls their largest lead of the set at 20-14. However, the Roadrunners wouldn't go away, as they used an 11-4 run to grab a 25-24 lead. But the Owls would not be denied, firing off three straight to take the set. Maruska led all players with six kills and nine digs and Weske added five kills.
Third Set
The Owls rallied from an early deficit to take the final set, 25-23. After leading 6-3, UTSA used a 10-3 run to grab its largest lead of the match, 13-9. A 9-2 run gave Rice an 18-15 lead, but the Roadrunners tied the set at 20. After a Rice timeout, kills by Kostelecky and Weske gave Rice a two-point lead. The teams traded points the rest of the way with Weske closing it out. Weske hit .500 in the set behind eight kills on 14 attempts.
UP NEXT
Rice goes back on the road next Friday, October 6, when it travels to Memphis. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
UTSA
Rice
Kills
32
48
Errors
18
16
Attempts
113
123
Hitting %
.124
.260
Points
42.0
61.0
Assists
27
43
Aces
2
3
Blocks
8
10
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS
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