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Sports

UH got better of Rice

by RONNIE TURNER
THE DAILY COUGAR

If the Houston volleyball team has known anything over the past four years, it's been that Conference USA rival Rice has had its number. 

Dating back to the 2003 season, the Cougars had dropped six of their last seven meetings to the Owls, much to the misery of seniors Kelly McAnelly and Becca Sartori who were witnesses to Rice's domination.

The Owls certainly got the better of the Cougars over that four-year stretch, but the Houston seniors guaranteed the team would reverse the tables in its final home regular season against Rice on Thursday night.

Sartori and McAnelly made good on their promise, leading the way in the Cougars' 3-1 victory (30-14, 27-30, 30-24, 30-25) over the Owls on Senior/Alumni Night at the Athletics/Alumni Center. The two seniors combined for 32 kills and 21 digs, leaving Rice with a hefty parting shot.

"It feels great because I've always had this huge rivalry with Rice, even when they weren't one of the best teams," said Sartori (11 kills, .320 attack percentage). "I've always wanted to beat them."

Houston (17-12 overall, 8-6 C-USA) jumped out to a hot start in the first game, out-hitting the Owls .349 to -.021 en route to snatching a 30-14 win. Sartori and McAnelly combined for 12 kills in the first set.

Both teams played erratically in the second game, but Rice (12-16, 5-9) put together a late surge to escape with a 30-27 victory, leaving the match tied 1-1 at halftime. Houston took the third game 30-24, due in large part to eight kills from sophomore outside hitter Justine Farmer (27 kills, 15 digs) and six kills from McAnelly (21 kills, 14 digs, .383).

That momentum carried over to the fourth game, where the Houston out-hit Rice .278 to .154 to take a 30-25 victory that sealed the win and ended the Cougars' two-match losing streak to Rice which dated back to last season.

"It was good because the alumni got to see us win with the parents and the friends of all the parents here," head coach Bill Walton said. 
 

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