Sunday, September 29
Houston, Texas
1 PM
Rice University
7-4,2-0AAC
3
vs
0
UTSA
6-9,0-2AAC
1
2
3
F
UTSA
17
15
14
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Owls Make Quick Work of UTSA in 3-0 Win
9/29/2024 2:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON - The Rice Owls volleyball team (7-4) swept the UTSA Roadrunners (6-9) on Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse to move to 2-0 in America Athletic Conference play.
"Our serving was key today for us," head coach Genny Volpe said. "UTSA couldn't get their offense going due in large part to the service pressure we put on them. We also were able to have a balanced attack as well which was the goal. We are looking to continue to focus on being consistent as we continue through conference play."
Cindy Tchouangwa continued her impressive offensive season with 12 kills in 24 attempts, as well as a dig. Kaitlyn Knobbe led the Owls in hitting percentage (minimum of five attempts) at .462, putting eight kills on the board.
Savannah Skopal accounted for 30 of the Owls 36 assists on the day. Other Owls that tallied assists on the day were Gaby Mansfield (three), Kaia Mateo (two), and Nia McCardell (one).
Rice also tallied seven blocks on the day, with Knobbe accounting for the majority those blocks at four. Lademi Ogunlana collected two on the day, then Stephanie Gutierrez, Lola Foord, Samarah Hill, Taylor Johnson, and Tchoangwa all accounted for one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (RICE 25-17)
Rice wasted no time building up a large lead, going ahead 11-3 before UTSA would burn its first time out of the set. Rice bolstered the lead up to 13-4 before the Roadrunners went on a 5-0 run to close the gap at 13-9. Rice responded in kind with a run of its own, building a nine-point lead again at 18-9. Rice was able to extinguish any rally that UTSA would try to start, shutting down a three-point run and two-point swing in the waning minutes of the first. A final kill from Foord would clinch the first set for the Owls.
SET TWO (RICE 25-15)
UTSA fought back to start the set, coming out to a 6-4 lead in the early part of the set, but Rice took over with a 7-1 run to take an 11-7 lead. After trading a couple of points, Rice would then make a 6-0 run to take an 18-9 lead later in the set. Once the Owls led 23-12, UTSA tried to make a run, but the Owls ended it after three points, and a solo block by Knobbe ended the set at 25-15 in favor of Rice.
SET THREE (RICE 25-14)
Rice dominated through the third set to leave no double in the match, taking a 6-0 lead before the Roadrunners were able to get on the board. Rice was able to build a 14-3 lead at, and further stretched the lead to 12-points at 17-5 with a Gutierrez service ace. UTSA's lone run of the set came afterwards, a 3-0 run, but Rice scored it's 18th and 19th points to stop the run. Rice then outscored UTSA 6-3 in the final nine points, including a 3-0 run of its own, to shut down the Roadrunners and take the match in straight sets.
UP NEXT
Rice will continue conference play with two road matches, taking on Tulsa on Friday, October 4, before pivoting to meet Wichita State on Sunday, October 6.
"Our serving was key today for us," head coach Genny Volpe said. "UTSA couldn't get their offense going due in large part to the service pressure we put on them. We also were able to have a balanced attack as well which was the goal. We are looking to continue to focus on being consistent as we continue through conference play."
Cindy Tchouangwa continued her impressive offensive season with 12 kills in 24 attempts, as well as a dig. Kaitlyn Knobbe led the Owls in hitting percentage (minimum of five attempts) at .462, putting eight kills on the board.
Savannah Skopal accounted for 30 of the Owls 36 assists on the day. Other Owls that tallied assists on the day were Gaby Mansfield (three), Kaia Mateo (two), and Nia McCardell (one).
Rice also tallied seven blocks on the day, with Knobbe accounting for the majority those blocks at four. Lademi Ogunlana collected two on the day, then Stephanie Gutierrez, Lola Foord, Samarah Hill, Taylor Johnson, and Tchoangwa all accounted for one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (RICE 25-17)
Rice wasted no time building up a large lead, going ahead 11-3 before UTSA would burn its first time out of the set. Rice bolstered the lead up to 13-4 before the Roadrunners went on a 5-0 run to close the gap at 13-9. Rice responded in kind with a run of its own, building a nine-point lead again at 18-9. Rice was able to extinguish any rally that UTSA would try to start, shutting down a three-point run and two-point swing in the waning minutes of the first. A final kill from Foord would clinch the first set for the Owls.
SET TWO (RICE 25-15)
UTSA fought back to start the set, coming out to a 6-4 lead in the early part of the set, but Rice took over with a 7-1 run to take an 11-7 lead. After trading a couple of points, Rice would then make a 6-0 run to take an 18-9 lead later in the set. Once the Owls led 23-12, UTSA tried to make a run, but the Owls ended it after three points, and a solo block by Knobbe ended the set at 25-15 in favor of Rice.
SET THREE (RICE 25-14)
Rice dominated through the third set to leave no double in the match, taking a 6-0 lead before the Roadrunners were able to get on the board. Rice was able to build a 14-3 lead at, and further stretched the lead to 12-points at 17-5 with a Gutierrez service ace. UTSA's lone run of the set came afterwards, a 3-0 run, but Rice scored it's 18th and 19th points to stop the run. Rice then outscored UTSA 6-3 in the final nine points, including a 3-0 run of its own, to shut down the Roadrunners and take the match in straight sets.
UP NEXT
Rice will continue conference play with two road matches, taking on Tulsa on Friday, October 4, before pivoting to meet Wichita State on Sunday, October 6.
Team Stats
UTSA
Rice
Kills
25
43
Errors
16
15
Attempts
95
104
Hitting %
.095
.269
Points
30.0
60.0
Assists
21
36
Aces
1
10
Blocks
4
7
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
4
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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