TCU beats Rice 3-0 in NCAA Volleyball first round
Season ends with a 23-9 record

FROM RICE ATHLETICS

Rice’s Conference USA champion volleyball team made a brief appearance in the NCAA Volleyball Championship when they took on Texas Christian University in Austin this week. TCU in its first-ever NCAA volleyball match defeated the Rice Owls 3-0 at host University of Texas’ Gregory Gymnasium. Set scores were 26-24, 25-13, 27-25. Rice’s season ends at 23-9.

	RICEOWLS.COM

Senior Natalie Bogan led Rice with 12 kills and a .370 hitting percentage, while sophomore Ashleigh McCord collected 11 kills. Freshman Nancy Cole posted seven kills in 20 attacks, and Jessie Boulavsky had six kills. Owl setter Meredith Schamun dished out 33 assists, and Tracey Lam had a match-high 24 digs. Jenn McClean had 11 digs, and Megan White had 10 digs.

For Rice it marked the third time that the Owls have made the NCAA tournament and are still in search of their first NCAA win.

“This is the third time we’ve been here, and every team that I have coached that has been here has wanted it really badly,” said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. “It takes us a while to get into rhythm and by the time we do, it’s too late. I think we’ve just got to learn to settle down. We’re a great team that got here for a reason, and we’ve just got to play the game a little more relaxed. I thought TCU played relaxed, they did a nice job of that. They played it point for point, and we played it in spots.”

Rice is now 0-3 in NCAA matches, losing 3-1 to Michigan (2004), 3-1 to Wichita State in 2008 and 3-0 to TCU in 2009.

The Owls accomplished a lot in 2009, including their first-ever conference title.

“I think the entire season was so successful,” said senior co-captain Bogan. “We’ve accomplished more this season than we have before. I’m just so proud of our team for getting this far and winning the conference tournament. It is disappointing to lose, but I’m so proud of us for how far we’ve gotten.”