Friday, September 8
Houston, TX
6 p.m.
Rice University
3-3,0-0AAC
3
vs
0
Houston Christian
4-4,0-0Southland
1
2
3
F
Houston Christian
14
12
13
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Rice Sweeps Houston Christian in Dominating Fashion
9/8/2023 8:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – The Rice Volleyball team never trailed in picking up its second sweep of the season with a dominating victory over crosstown foe Houston Christian (25-14, 25-12, 25-13), Friday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (3-3) had four players with at least six kills and hit a season-best .347 as a team while limiting the Houston Christian (4-4) to a -.075 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led all players with 14 kills and a .481 hitting percentage.
Fifth-year senior Satasha Kostelecky was efficient in the middle, hitting four-of-seven for a .571 percentage. Freshman outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa (.455) and fifth-year middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky (.294) each had six kills while Kostelecky added a season-high seven blocks.
Senior setter Izzy Rawlings controlled the offense with a career-high 37 assists while adding seven digs. Senior libero Nia McCardell and senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska led the defense with 13 digs apiece.
As a team, the Owls notched 15 blocks, the most since recording 16 against Houston Baptist on Sept. 1, 2018.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I was really pleased with our efficiency today. We wanted to try and play an offensively clean match and we did. Our serving was solid and allowed us to have the upper hand on defense. Our block was pretty disciplined as well. Overall it was a great start to the three-match series we have in front of us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice came out strong from the get-go, attacking .324 as a team on 15 kills in the opening frame in a 25-14 win. Courtley hit .556 with six kills on nine attempts. Maruska had five digs while Kostelecky recorded five of her seven blocks in the frame.
Second Set
Rice had its largest victory of the season in the second stanza, winning 25-12. The Owls led by as many as 12, going on an 11-3 run after HCU pulled within 9-6. Courtley had four kills on nine attempts (.444) without an error and Kostelecky had three kills (.333). Darby Harris had five of her seven digs in the set.
Third Set
The Owls closed the match with a 25-13 victory. After playing to a 4-4 tie through the first eight points, Rice went on a 16-5 run to take a 20-9 lead. Houston Christian would only get as close as 10 points the rest of the way. Rice hit .438 for the set with 16 kills and just two errors. Courtley hit .444 with four kills and Lademi Ogunlana and Emilia Weske had three apiece.
UP NEXT
Rice concludes the Rice Invitational tomorrow night, September 9 when it hosts Florida Gulf Coast. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Owls (3-3) had four players with at least six kills and hit a season-best .347 as a team while limiting the Houston Christian (4-4) to a -.075 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led all players with 14 kills and a .481 hitting percentage.
Fifth-year senior Satasha Kostelecky was efficient in the middle, hitting four-of-seven for a .571 percentage. Freshman outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa (.455) and fifth-year middle blocker Satasha Kostelecky (.294) each had six kills while Kostelecky added a season-high seven blocks.
Senior setter Izzy Rawlings controlled the offense with a career-high 37 assists while adding seven digs. Senior libero Nia McCardell and senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska led the defense with 13 digs apiece.
As a team, the Owls notched 15 blocks, the most since recording 16 against Houston Baptist on Sept. 1, 2018.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I was really pleased with our efficiency today. We wanted to try and play an offensively clean match and we did. Our serving was solid and allowed us to have the upper hand on defense. Our block was pretty disciplined as well. Overall it was a great start to the three-match series we have in front of us."
First Set
Rice came out strong from the get-go, attacking .324 as a team on 15 kills in the opening frame in a 25-14 win. Courtley hit .556 with six kills on nine attempts. Maruska had five digs while Kostelecky recorded five of her seven blocks in the frame.
Second Set
Rice had its largest victory of the season in the second stanza, winning 25-12. The Owls led by as many as 12, going on an 11-3 run after HCU pulled within 9-6. Courtley had four kills on nine attempts (.444) without an error and Kostelecky had three kills (.333). Darby Harris had five of her seven digs in the set.
Third Set
The Owls closed the match with a 25-13 victory. After playing to a 4-4 tie through the first eight points, Rice went on a 16-5 run to take a 20-9 lead. Houston Christian would only get as close as 10 points the rest of the way. Rice hit .438 for the set with 16 kills and just two errors. Courtley hit .444 with four kills and Lademi Ogunlana and Emilia Weske had three apiece.
UP NEXT
Rice concludes the Rice Invitational tomorrow night, September 9 when it hosts Florida Gulf Coast. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be streamed at ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
HBU
Rice
Kills
19
41
Errors
27
8
Attempts
106
95
Hitting %
-.075
.347
Points
22.0
59.0
Assists
18
40
Aces
1
3
Blocks
2
15
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS
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