Volleyball team wins three straight matches
On Tuesday night, the Owls' women's volleyball team defeated Southwest Texas
State University at Autry Court in the latest of a series of matches spanning
the past 10 days.
During the stretch, the Owls went 3-3 against both Western Athletic Conference and non-conference opponents, including Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, Steven F. Austin State University, the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.
On Tuesday, Rice defeated Southwest Texas, 12-14, in straight sets, 15-8, 15-9, 15-8, to improve their season record to 11-14. The Owls have currently won their last three straight games and their past five home games.
Middle blocker Jennifer Sloan had a personal best of 21 kills to lead the Rice defense. The Owls had 66 kills to contrast Southwest Texas State's 53, and had 11 blocks while Southwest Texas State had five.
Setter Carolyn Sarnecki and middle blocker Darcy Cruikshank each had nine defensive digs to lead Rice's 51, while Sarnecki also had 47 sets. Cruikshank's .455 attacking percentage was the highest for the Owls, who as a team had a .298 average attacking percentage.
Sloan also led Rice in service aces, with four of the team's nine. Sloan's eight blocking assists brought her career total to 279, vaulting her into second place on Rice's all-time list.
On Saturday, the Owls squared off against conference rival TCU, 4-21, at Autry Court. Rice also took this match in straight sets, 15-6, 15-12, 15-5.
Rice stifled TCU, having a team average attacking percentage of .232 which was significantly higher than TCU's meager average of .082. The Owls also had five team blocks, as compared to their opponent's two.
Cruikshank's attacking percentage of .333 was the highest for the Owls on the night. Outside hitter Rebecca Case, setter Soleil Thon and Cruikshank contributed two service aces apiece to Rice's cause.
Outside hitter Karolina Zelinka had 12 of the Owls' 47 kills, and Sarnecki had 36 of Rice's 44 sets. The Owls are now 5-4 this season in conference play.
The Owls hosted SMU, 3-19, on Thursday and won in four sets, 15-10, 15-9, 10-15, 15-8 to end a three-game losing skid.
Rice's team attacking percentage of .213 was higher than SMU's average of .153, assisted by Darcy Cruikshank's attacking percentage of .318.
Sloan contributed 15 kills, while Zelinka muscled three service aces. Sarnecki had 27 of the Owls' 39 sets, and Rice had a team effort of 60 defensive digs. Cruikshank's attacking percentage of .333 was the highest for the Owls on the night.
On Tuesday, Rice lost in an away game to Steven F. Austin, 14-10, in four sets, 15-9, 10-15, 15-13, 15-12 to end a three-game road trip.
On a positive note, Rice did have more team blocks, 17, than Steven F. Austin's 12.
Playing a weekend series in Utah on Oct. 18 and 19, the Owls were handed losses by both Utah and BYU.
In the Saturday match, Rice lost to Utah in straight sets, 15-7, 16-7, 15-13.
Sloan had nine kills and 10 defensive digs, while Cruikshank nabbed two service aces.
Against BYU in the Friday match, Rice again lost in straight sets, 15-1, 15-2, 15-3.
In a match that only lasted 44 minutes, Cruikshank had eight defensive digs and Sloan had 11 kills.
The Owls will look to continue their winning streak when they face off against WAC foe Air Force Academy tomorrow at Autry Court.
This item appeared in the Sports section of the November 1, 1996 issue.
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