Volleyball Owls Claim 21st Victory with 3-0 Crushing of Memphis

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 9, 2008) The Rice Owls volleyball collected its 21st victory of the season as it swept visiting Memphis 3-0. Game scores were 30-28, 25-15, and 25-22. The Owls are now 21-5 overall and 12-3 in Conference USA action, while Memphis is now 17-12 and 8-7 in league action.

Rice came from behind in a thrilling set one to win 30-28. The two teams battled back and forth, but Memphis defended and blocked to forge a late 22-18 lead. The Owls were able to knot it at 23-23 on kills by Natalie Bogan and Jessica Holderness. A team block by Ashleigh McCord and Caroline Gill gave the Owls the decisive point.

"Coming off the of the five-set win over UAB, I was proud of how focused the team came out to play after such an emotional victory on Friday," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "It was nice win on senior day and we got great play from our seniors in Ekaette Shammah, Karyn Morgan, and Jessica Holderness."

Rice's Karyn Morgan led all hitters with 6 kills and a .286 attack percentage as Rice hit .205 and Memphis sported a .200 attack percentage.

The Owls carried their late momentum from set one into set two with an early 10-6 lead. A Holderness kill gave Rice a 18-13 that would eventually blossom to 22-13 and a Tiger service error gave the Owls a 25-15 win and a 2-0 match lead. Rice setter Meredith Schamun totaled 18 assists.

Rice tallied 14 kills to Memphis' 8 and hit .265 to the Tigers' .000 in the second set.

The Owls were relentless and kept applying the pressure on Memphis throughout set three taking an 19-14 lead. But, Memphis did not go away quietly and got back into the set to be down only 22-21. A Bogan kill put Rice up 23-21 and two Tiger hitting errors gave Rice the final two points for a 25-22 win.

On the day, Karyn Morgan led Rice with 11 kills for a .320 attack percentage, while Rice's Caroline Gill hit .385 to lead both teams. Jessica Holderness and Natalie Bogan each contributed 9 kills and setter Meredith Schamun tallied 36 assists.

Rice hit .194 with 41 kills, while the Tigers had 32 kills for a .046 attack percentage. Memphis was led by Lauren Thompson's 12 kills and .375 attack percentage.

The Owls next play at Houston on Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m.