Saturday Schedule – Mizuno Invitational II
South Carolina vs. Wichita State – 11 a.m.
Rice vs. Harvard – 1 p.m.
Harvard vs. South Carolina – 5 p.m.
Rice vs. Wichita State – 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, 2009
Houston – South Carolina defeated Rice 3-2 in the opening day of the Mizuno Invitational II at Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse. Set scores were 25-20, 21-25, 25-12, 21-25, 11-15. With the loss, Rice’s six-match winning streak is halted and the Owls are now 7-2 on the year. The Gamecocks remain undefeated and improve to 7-0.
“This was a tough loss, because we know that we can execute better,” commented Rice head coach Genny Volpe. “Even though we may have been better statistically, we made errors on the ball control side that proved detrimental. We have to give South Carolina credit because they are a good team. We need to refocus and take of business on Saturday.”
Natalie Bogan led Rice with 20 kills and only 1 error in 44 attacks for a match-high .432 hitting percentage. Bogan also a block solo and 7 block assists. South Carolina’s Ivan Kujundizic posted 22 kills, but had 11 errors in 70 attacks for a .157 hitting percentage and she served all three of USC’s service aces including match-point.
Set one was tight with the Owls ahead 9-7, but outscored the Gamecocks 14 to 10 to lead 23-17 and then closed out the set at 25-20. Rice pounded 16 kills to USC’s 12 and also had 6 team blocks. Bogan and Ashleigh McCord led the Owls with 4 kills.
The second set was again highly competitive. The score was 8-8 before South Carolina went on a 5-0 run to be ahead 13-8. Rice then countered by outscoring USC 8 to 3 to tie the set at 16-16 and the Owls were even ahead 20-17. But, the Gamecocks battled back and outscored Rice 8-1 to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 win. Bogan and Jenn McClean led the Owls with 4 kills each, but Rice only had 2 team blocks in set two and 21 digs to USC’s 27 digs. USC outhit the Owls .209 (13-4-43) to .109 (15-9-55).
Rice totally dominated set three in winning 25-12 with 17 kills and a .405 hitting percentage (17-2-37), while South Carolina only hit .029. Bogan led Rice with a set-high 6 kills. The Owls started the set with a 10-1 lead and then upped it to 16-5 before prailing 25-12.
The Gamecocks regrouped to take set four 25-21. USC was behind 16-14, but then outscored the Owls 5-0 for a 19-16 lead that it would not relinquish. USC hit .273 to Rice’s .250. Jessie Boulavsky’s 5 kills led Rice, while Kujundzic had two service aces and 5 kills as well.
Rice was in command of set five with a 5-1 early lead, but USC again battled back to to tie it at 6-6. It was 10-10 when the Gamecocks outscored the Owls 5-1 to win the set and the match.
In the day’s opening match, No. 23-ranked Wichita State (7-1) easily took care of Harvard (2-3) 3-0. Set scores were 25-10, 25-12, 25-10.
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South Carolina vs. Wichita State – 11 a.m.
Rice vs. Harvard – 1 p.m.
Harvard vs. South Carolina – 5 p.m.
Rice vs. Wichita State – 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, 2009
Houston – South Carolina defeated Rice 3-2 in the opening day of the Mizuno Invitational II at Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse. Set scores were 25-20, 21-25, 25-12, 21-25, 11-15. With the loss, Rice’s six-match winning streak is halted and the Owls are now 7-2 on the year. The Gamecocks remain undefeated and improve to 7-0.
“This was a tough loss, because we know that we can execute better,” commented Rice head coach Genny Volpe. “Even though we may have been better statistically, we made errors on the ball control side that proved detrimental. We have to give South Carolina credit because they are a good team. We need to refocus and take of business on Saturday.”
Natalie Bogan led Rice with 20 kills and only 1 error in 44 attacks for a match-high .432 hitting percentage. Bogan also a block solo and 7 block assists. South Carolina’s Ivan Kujundizic posted 22 kills, but had 11 errors in 70 attacks for a .157 hitting percentage and she served all three of USC’s service aces including match-point.
Set one was tight with the Owls ahead 9-7, but outscored the Gamecocks 14 to 10 to lead 23-17 and then closed out the set at 25-20. Rice pounded 16 kills to USC’s 12 and also had 6 team blocks. Bogan and Ashleigh McCord led the Owls with 4 kills.
The second set was again highly competitive. The score was 8-8 before South Carolina went on a 5-0 run to be ahead 13-8. Rice then countered by outscoring USC 8 to 3 to tie the set at 16-16 and the Owls were even ahead 20-17. But, the Gamecocks battled back and outscored Rice 8-1 to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 win. Bogan and Jenn McClean led the Owls with 4 kills each, but Rice only had 2 team blocks in set two and 21 digs to USC’s 27 digs. USC outhit the Owls .209 (13-4-43) to .109 (15-9-55).
Rice totally dominated set three in winning 25-12 with 17 kills and a .405 hitting percentage (17-2-37), while South Carolina only hit .029. Bogan led Rice with a set-high 6 kills. The Owls started the set with a 10-1 lead and then upped it to 16-5 before prailing 25-12.
The Gamecocks regrouped to take set four 25-21. USC was behind 16-14, but then outscored the Owls 5-0 for a 19-16 lead that it would not relinquish. USC hit .273 to Rice’s .250. Jessie Boulavsky’s 5 kills led Rice, while Kujundzic had two service aces and 5 kills as well.
Rice was in command of set five with a 5-1 early lead, but USC again battled back to to tie it at 6-6. It was 10-10 when the Gamecocks outscored the Owls 5-1 to win the set and the match.
In the day’s opening match, No. 23-ranked Wichita State (7-1) easily took care of Harvard (2-3) 3-0. Set scores were 25-10, 25-12, 25-10.
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