CSNbbs

I figured we'd start a new thread for them since they opened conference play and that other thread was getting rather long.

3-0 sweep over UTEP tonight for the 22nd ranked Owls. I think that's our 8th sweep (out of 12 wins IIRC)? We're at North Texas Sunday afternoon - that could be a slightly harder test and is at a site where we haven't done the best in years past.

A couple of top-25 upsets already this week, but mostly involving teams below Rice in the rankings (Oregon for example losing to Oregon State). Cal lost its first match too (to Stanford) so Baylor is now the lone unbeaten team in the nation.

Easy 3-0 sweep, but we really didn't play that well. The setting was as bad as I've seen of a Rice team in a couple years. Ginny was liberal with her substitutions throughout, and pretty much emptied the bench the final two-thirds of the 3rd set.

(09-27-2019 08:22 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Easy 3-0 sweep, but we really didn't play that well. The setting was as bad as I've seen of a Rice team in a couple years. Ginny was liberal with her substitutions throughout, and pretty much emptied the bench the final two-thirds of the 3rd set.

So, played poorly, emptied the bench, and won easily anyway? Is this a Rice team we're talking about?

I think she was sending a message to play your best or you will sit.

(09-27-2019 08:22 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Easy 3-0 sweep, but we really didn't play that well. The setting was as bad as I've seen of a Rice team in a couple years. Ginny was liberal with her substitutions throughout, and pretty much emptied the bench the final two-thirds of the 3rd set.

I’m not sure what you are talking about. The substitution sequence was routine during the first two sets. During the third set, only two additional players played including Tai who has played in most matches this year. . We have gone much further into the bench in other matches.

I agree that the setting was not sharp.

(09-27-2019 09:51 PM)OldOwl Wrote: [ -> ]I think she was sending a message to play your best or you will sit.

Who did Volpe sit for poor performance?

Back and forth first set vs North Texas. Rice able to win it 28-26. Good number of Rice fans at the game.

Wow. Another tight set, but Rice wins the 2nd, 27-25.

(09-29-2019 02:06 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]Wow. Another tight set, but Rice wins the 2nd, 27-25.

Just tried running North Texas's live stats via StatBroadcast, but it's down. They seem to be having technical troubles in Denton. Either that, or they're not using the service today.

Much better 3rd set for Rice (25-11) to sweep North Texas!

(09-29-2019 02:25 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-29-2019 02:06 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]Wow. Another tight set, but Rice wins the 2nd, 27-25.

Just tried running North Texas's live stats via StatBroadcast, but it's down. They seem to be having technical troubles in Denton. Either that, or they're not using the service today.

Yeah, stats weren't working but video was.

Thanks for the updates!

Way to take care of business Owls.

I really don't know if there will be much movement in the polls as far as Rice goes. Florida State right below us had a couple of 3-0 sweeps too; but outside of #24 Oregon and #25 USC probably dropping out of the polls, the teams that are above us that lost all lost to ranked teams so they may not drop much either. I don't know how someone could move Florida State above us but justify not moving teams like Illinois (who lost a close 5-set affair to Nebraska) or Missouri down (assuming they lose to Kentucky) in that case. So I'll predict Rice stays #22 tomorrow, or at best, moves up 1 spot.

Actually #1 Stanford lost in 4 to #8 Washington (after they had lost to Washington State earlier in the week). Baylor will be the new #1 team for sure now.

Great job Lady Owls away from home.

(09-29-2019 02:30 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]Much better 3rd set for Rice (25-11) to sweep North Texas!

Nicole had a monster match with 22 kills and 16 digs (in only 3 sets), but my guess is her streak of consecutive conference Player of the Week will end at four as her stats against UTEP on Friday were good, but not great (largely due to the sub-par setting throughout that contest).

5th in a row for Lennon!

Quote:C-USA Offensive Player of the Week - Nicole Lennon, Rice, Jr., Katy, Texas
No. 22 Rice opened C-USA play with a pair of sweeps days after the program received its first-ever national ranking. Lennon once again continued to play a major role in the team's success, averaging 6.00 kills, 6.50 points, 4.50 digs and a .338 hitting percentage on the weekend. In her first double-double outing on Friday, the outside hitter posted 14 kills, 11 digs, one ace and a block to lift the Owls to a 3-0 decision over UTEP. The squad then traveled to North Texas on Sunday and made quick work of the Mean Green as Lennon registered 22 kills, 16 digs, three assists and two blocks in the effort. She also crafted a perfect reception rate in 18 attempts. Rice now owns one of nation's best winning percentages at .929 and the NCAA's fourth-best mark for consecutive home wins (16) after the victory against the Miners.

http://conferenceusa.com/news/2019/9/30/...-week.aspx

Quote:Over the first week of league play, Lennon totaled more kills than any player in C-USA and had the best kills per set rate by an entire kill.

Sounds like it was an easy choice. Congrats to Nicole for yet another fantastic week.

Rice moves up one spot to #21 in the coaches poll this week.

(09-30-2019 02:02 PM)temchugh Wrote: [ -> ]Rice moves up one spot to #21 in the coaches poll this week.

Rice went from 247 points to 317.

WKU moving up and is now 3rd among other receiving votes (39 points).