Rice VB Takes Care of Business

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 29, 2008) The Rice Owls volleyball team sports a 2-0 record after cruising to identical 3-0 set wins over UT-San Antonio and Louisiana-Lafayette in the Owls' Mizuno Invitational.

In the first match of the day, Rice cruised over UTSA 25-13, 25-15, 25-18 and had a balance attack as Karyn McCord and Ashleigh McCord each had 9 kills, while Natalie Bogan had 8 kills and Jessica Holderness pounded 7 kills. Setter Meredith Schamun was smooth in running the offense with 35 assists. Tracey Lam led Rice with 20 digs.

Against the Ragin' Cajuns, Rice won 25-13, 25-16, and 25-14. Bogan led the Owls with 13 kills and Karyn Morgan followed with 10 kills. Morgan also had 10 digs as Lam again led all with 16 digs.

"Being 2-0 and 6-0 in sets is a great way to start the season," commented Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "The execution was certainly evident. I thought that Ashleigh McCord, though a freshman, was physical and aggressive and that's a great way to start your career."

The senior leadership of Morgan and Holderness was prevalent in the day's first two matches.

"The seniors' leadership and composure was key in today's two wins," said Volpe. "Also, our sophomore setter Meredith Schamun did a great job leading and running the offense efficiently."

In other action at the Mizuno Invitational, Michigan defeated Lousiana-Lafayette 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-17). Beth Karpiak had 10 kills for the Wolverines (1-0), while setter Lexi Zimmerman had 27 assists.

The Owls next play Michigan at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Fox Gym. Admission is free.