Sunday's Sports Update: Volleyball clinches C-USA title, NCAA tournament berth
The volleyball team capped off a terrific three-day run through the Conference-USA tournament with a dramatic victory over second-seeded Tulsa. The win gave the Owls an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, their second consecutive appearance in the 64-team tournament.Rice entered Sunday's tournament finale on a season-high seven-match winning streak, including their first two matches of the C-USA Tournament, which was hosted by the Owls at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice defeated Marshall in three sets on Friday evening before taking out top-seeded Southern Miss on Saturday evening. The Golden Eagles entered their match against Rice on a fifteen-match winning streak, but Rice proved too hot for the tournament favorite. That victory set up Rice's matchup with Tulsa in front of a loud crowd at Tudor.
Tulsa maintained a slight advantage throughout the first set before the Owls fought back late. Rice turned a 20-18 deficit into a 23-21 late after a quick 5-1 spurt, and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Ashleigh McCord ended the first set with a score of 25-23. McCord recorded seven kills during the first set, and was the best of the Owls' outside hitters throughout the match. Her 24 kills led the team, as did her .340 hitting percentage.
The second set proved to be the most dramatic comeback of Rice's season. Tulsa energized their contingent of supporters by taking a 19-9 lead. With hopes of evening up the match, the Golden Hurricane had all the momentum. But the volleyball gods intervened, and the Owls staged a fierce comeback. Rice scored the set's last six points, and senior outside hitter Jenn McClean's kill gave the Owls a 2-0 advantage. McClean would finish with eleven kills, and was one of through players to record double-digit kills. Her performance would earn her a spot on the all-tournament team.
Rice and Tulsa went back and forth during the third set, with neither team opening up any noticeable advantage. The Owls had two opportunities to end the match, but Tulsa refused to lie down, eventually marching back to take the third set 27-25 and set up the fourth set. Junior setter Meredith Schamun keyed the Rice attack in the third set with 13 assists. Schamun would go on to notch a match-high 49 assists to continue the steady play she's shown throughout the year. Earlier in the week, Schamun was named co-setter of the year for the conference, and she earned more honors over the weekend after being named the tournament's MVP.
The Owls led for most of the fourth set, but could not pull away from Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane came back to take a 22-21 lead and a 23-22 lead. Not wanting to go into a fifth set, Rice took a stand. Back-to-back kills by McCord brought the lively crowd to its feet, and a sloppy final point culminated with a kill by freshman outside hitter Nancy Cole that caused the team to rush the court in celebration.
Junior libero Tracey Lam was a fellow conference honoree after being named the defensive player of the year. Lam has been Rice's backbone on defense, and impressed in the tournament final with a team-high 19 digs. She was the third Owl on the all-tournament team.
With their goal of winning the conference tournament finally reached, Rice must now turn its attention to preparing for the NCAA Tournament. The Owls have one tune-up against LSU on November 27th at Tudor before the start tournament play. Rice exited in the first-round last year against Wichita State, but they will enter this year's tournament as one of the nation's hottest teams, having won eight straight matches. The Owls hope to use their tournament experience to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
More from The Rice Thresher
Jones wins men’s and women’s Beer Bike races, GSA snags alumni
Jones College won both the women’s and men’s Beer Bike 2024 races, while the Graduate Student Association claimed the alumni team win. Hanszen College bike teams were the runner-up in the alumni and men’s races, while Brown College was the runner-up in the women’s race. Martel and McMurtry Colleges did not bike in the alumni race, according to the Rice Program Council’s final report, and the GSA was disqualified from the men’s race for accidentally sending out two bikers simultaneously.
Super Smash Bros. ultimate tournament sees smashing success
The Super Smash Bros. Club held their second annual ultimate tournament Friday, April 12. Club president Jashun Paluru said all Smash players were welcome, regardless of ability, experience or involvement in the club. The event was held in collaboration with Owls After Dark, a late-night activity series headed by the Rice Student Center, at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall.
‘Off the beaten track’: Commencement speakers through the years
A former American president, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nobel laureates and the founder of Khan Academy. All may share similar traits or levels of fame, but there’s another, quieter, common ground: They’ve all spoken at Rice’s commencement.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.