HOUSTON – HBU was handed a 3-1 (14-25, 25-22, 22-25, 18-25) defeat by South Carolina and also took a 3-1 (26-24, 12-25, 16-25, 18-25) setback to host Rice to wrap up the Rice Adidas Volleyball Invitational Saturday at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter
Kelly Colwell, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, led the Huskies (4-3) with a career-high 13 kills and added eight digs against the Owls. Freshman outside hitter
Catherine Drapela also posted a career-high with 10 kills. Sophomore middle blocker
Megan Patillo and senior middle blocker
Kayla Davenport chipped in with five kills apiece. Senior setter
Madison O'Brien handed out 35 assists with 10 digs and five kills. Junior libero
Hannah Lewis led HBU with 17 digs and junior defensive specialist
Camie Copeland had 13.
Grace Morgan and Tori Woogk each had 11 kills for the Owls (5-1), with Morgan also recording 10 blocks (4 solo). Nicole Lennon had nine kills, seven digs and four blocks. Carly Graham finished with 20 assists and Rice was led defensively by Lee Ann Cunningham's 19 digs and Shelby Livingstone's 15.
The Huskies went on a five-point run to take a two-point lead early in the first set, 6-4. HBU continued to lead at 11-9, but Rice had a five-point spurt of its own to lead by two. The Owls led by three at 20-17 when the Huskies knotted it up on a block by Richey and Patillo. Rice had set point at 24-23, but Colwell recorded three-consecutive kills to give HBU the set win, 26-24.
Rice scored six-straight points to extend a two-point lead to an eight-point advantage in the second set. The Owls controlled the set, scoring seven-straight points to get to set point at 24-11 and evening the match with a 25-12 frame. Rice jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the third, the scored five points in a row to go up, 18-9. HBU was only able to get back within six, but Rice went on to win the set, 25-16.
The fourth set was tied 6-6, but the Owls seized the advantage with a six-point spurt. The Huskies bounced back with four in a row to cut the Owls' lead to 13-11. Rice came right back by scoring the next four to reclaim a six-point advantage.
Colwell led the Huskies with 12 kills, eight digs, three blocks and a pair of aces, while freshman outside hitter
Mikayla Vivens was held below double-digit kills for the first time this season with eight and also had eight digs against the Gamecocks. Sophomore right side
Ashtyn Richey had six kills and three blocks and Patillo had five kills and three blocks. Senior middle blocker
Courtney Kankel finished with a career-high five blocks. O'Brien had 30 kills, seven digs, three kills and three blocks Lewis had 11 digs.
Mikayla Shields led USC with 15 kills to go along with six digs, while Brittany McLean had 13 kills. Mikayla Robinson added nine kills and six blocks and Claire Edwards had eight kills and three blocks. Courtney Koehler dished out 43 assists and Aubrey Ezell led the Gamecocks with 18 digs.
The first set was tied, 5-5, until USC went on a six-point run to take the lead. The Gamecocks then extended the lead to 10 at 18-8 before going on to claim the set, 25-14.
The Huskies fell behind 10-6 in the second and trailed by two at 14-12. Behind the serve of Vivens, HBU ripped off seven-straight points to take a 19-14 lead. The Huskies got to set point at 24-19 and held off the Gamecocks, 25-22, to even the match.
USC scored five of the first six points to take the advantage in the third. HBU closed to within two at 15-13, but would get no closer as the Gamecocks went on to a 25-22 decision. The Gamecocks led 7-5, then scored four-straight to extend their lead to six. Another four-point spurt made the score 15-7, but HBU answered with a four-point swing of its own. USC held HBU at bay and closed out the match, 25-18.
The Huskies return to action in a non-conference tilt against Prairie View A&M Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Prairie View, Texas.
