And we're back!

Starters are McCardell, LaBue, Lennon, Kostelecky, Maruska, Graham, and Fowler.

Will be interesting to see how Maruska is as she isn't much of a blocking threat at 5'8".

Kill, block, ace, block. Rice starts off on a 4-0 run.

Adekunle doesn't appear to be at the game.

Rice going with the 5-1 offense this year, at least for now.

Played some bad back row defense. Passing was not good. Graham was having to run to ball a lot. Rice drops the first set, 20-25. Lennon with 5 kills but took 17 attacks. Score was "close", surprisingly, because of the blocking.

Wow....just no ability to put spikes down in the first set. All of the sets coming from the same spot.

Down 7-12 in the 2nd. Rice hitting .077.

2nd set is getting away, 9-19. Rice just can't seem to to hit the ball in.

Rice is playing like it's their first game. Okay, it is. But still, I expected them to look more like a team.

Rice had a mini run to make the game more respectable, but it was too late. Rice loses 2nd set, 18-25.

Rice lost their lead in the 3rd, but was able to recover, 25-22.

Rice maintaining momentum in the fourth, up 15-6. Mid-third game, changed system to sets in the middle of the floor instead of closer to net. Somehow worked out better to need longer spikes and they hit more in bounds than when closer to the net.

Rice up 20-11

Easily Rice's best set of the year (haha). Rice takes the 4th, 25-12, hitting .556. 15 kills, 1 ace, and 3 blocks. Rice forces a 5th set.

Rice wins 25-12!

Any word on why Anota is not dressed? Missing our 2nd best offensive threat makes it easy for the defense to double up on Nicole. Good to see Nicole heat up as the match progresses. Was expecting a breakout season for Ellie, but she's off to a very slow start.

Let's see if we can come all the way back to pull this one out.

Rice up 7-5

UH's penchant for attack errors and our improved blocking ability is keeping us in this one.

Rice 8-7

Rice up 12 - 9.

Rice 12-9