SMU
Rice
Volleyball Falls 3-1 At Rice
Oct 10 | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HOUSTON (SMU) - The Mustangs gave everything they had, including a career-high 16 kills by freshman Courtney Manning, at Rice Saturday night, but came up just a few points short, falling 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 31-33, 25-18).
SMU (13-7, 3-3 C-USA) never could get their footing in the fourth set, after an emotional 33-31 third set win to keep the match alive. Rice (13-5, 5-2 C-USA) broke the set open with a 6-0, breaking a 7-7 tie. SMU rallied to get within two points, but Rice closed the door, winning the set 25-18.
The Mustangs held with the Owls throughout the first set, but came up just short in the end, falling 25-22 in the opening stanza. The set consisted of nine ties and two lead changes, but it was the Owls who scored the final three points to take the early advantage.
The second set was nearly identical to the first, featuring 10 ties and six lead changes, but again, the Mustangs came up just short, falling behind 2-0 in the match with the 25-23 Rice victory. SMU rallied from four points back to tie the set 18-18. The set stayed tied until the 21-21 mark before the Owls scored four of the next six points for the 25-23 win.
The third set was the longest the Mustangs played all season, cutting the Rice lead to 2-1 with a 33-31 win. SMU won the third set 32-30 to sweep Texas State Sept. 18. With the set tied 12-12, Rice took a three-point lead, 18-15. The Mustangs rallied back, tying the set 19-19. From that point on, neither team led by more than one until SMU claimed the win 33-31.
Powell and Kelli Becerra finished with double-doubles in the match. Powell earned her 12th of the season with 11 kills and 17 digs, while Becerra recorded her 11th of the season with 52 assists and 14 digs. Manning added a match-high six blocks, while hitting .379.
The Mustangs will return to Moody Coliseum to host UAB Friday at 7 p.m.
