Volleyball earns first-round bye for C-USA tournament
Paul Fitzgerald
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
UH jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the second set, but the Owls battled back to pull within one point at 9-8 on a UH attack error. UH and Rice would go back and forth for the remainder of the set, with neither team taking more than a three point lead at any point. After the Owls took a 28-27 lead, UH scored the last three points of the set to win 30-28 and take a two set to zero lead.
Needing to win the third set to avoid defeat, the Owls jumped out to a 5-3 lead on the strength of two kills by senior outside hitter Karyn Morgan. After trading points, the Cougars took an 11-9 lead on a Rice attack error. Four straight Rice points, capped off by a kill by junior middle blocker Natalie Bogan, gave the Owls a 13-11 lead. The Cougars refused to quit, later going on a 4-0 run to take a 24-22 lead. After a service error by UH cut the lead to one, a team block by UH gave the Cougars the victory in the third set and in the match. Volpe could not pinpoint any one area that contributed to Thursday's loss.
"We just had a bad day all-around," Volpe said. "UH just came out after us. Every team has a bad day once in awhile, and it was bad timing for us that it came against our rival."
The loss evened the season series at one win apiece, with both teams defending their home court. With the regular season complete, the Owls now turn their attention to the C-USA Tournament, where an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament is on the line. Despite their recent loss, Volpe does not think the team's tournament chances will be affected.
"We have had some really great practices leading up to the tournament," Volpe said. "The team recognized that we were not ourselves against UH. We've been consistent all year long, and we still have that expectation going into the tournament."
Needing to win the third set to avoid defeat, the Owls jumped out to a 5-3 lead on the strength of two kills by senior outside hitter Karyn Morgan. After trading points, the Cougars took an 11-9 lead on a Rice attack error. Four straight Rice points, capped off by a kill by junior middle blocker Natalie Bogan, gave the Owls a 13-11 lead. The Cougars refused to quit, later going on a 4-0 run to take a 24-22 lead. After a service error by UH cut the lead to one, a team block by UH gave the Cougars the victory in the third set and in the match. Volpe could not pinpoint any one area that contributed to Thursday's loss.
"We just had a bad day all-around," Volpe said. "UH just came out after us. Every team has a bad day once in awhile, and it was bad timing for us that it came against our rival."
The loss evened the season series at one win apiece, with both teams defending their home court. With the regular season complete, the Owls now turn their attention to the C-USA Tournament, where an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament is on the line. Despite their recent loss, Volpe does not think the team's tournament chances will be affected.
"We have had some really great practices leading up to the tournament," Volpe said. "The team recognized that we were not ourselves against UH. We've been consistent all year long, and we still have that expectation going into the tournament."
Comments from unregistered users are subject to editor approval. Log in or register now to post a comment immediately. Alternatively, you may now even post a comment anonymously.
Be the first to comment on this story