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November 18, 2005 > Sports > Volleyball hosts C-USA tournament this weekend

Volleyball hosts C-USA tournament this weekend

By Matt McCabe | Thresher Editorial Staff

The volleyball team ended Conference-USA play the way it had hoped to play throughout the season. Rice (17-9, 8-7) topped crosstown C-USA rival University of Houston (16-11, 10-4) 3-1 on senior night at Autry Court Nov. 10. The Owls’ win gave the team a taste of their capabilities and momentum heading into the C-USA Tournament, which began Thursday at Autry Court.

“If [the UH match] taught us anything, it’s that we’re a really good team when we show up to play,” senior setter Kristina Hoban said. “We’ve got a lot of young players who are really good, and they’re getting better every day.”

Sixth-seeded Rice opened the conference tournament Thursday against Tulane University (3-15, 2-13), a team the Owls defeated in three games twice in regular-season conference play. With a win in Thursday’s match, Rice would play third-seeded Tulsa University (23-7, 10-5), which had a bye in the first round. The top four teams — Marshall, UH, Tulsa and Texas-El Paso — received first-round byes in the tournament bracket, which includes all 12 C-USA teams. Tulsa beat the Owls handily twice in the regular season.

“I feel really good about [a match against] Tulsa,” head coach Genny Volpe said. “If our team has it in them to prove themselves, then we have a chance.”

As the top seed, Marshall University (23-5, 15-1) is the obvious favorite to play in the final Sunday at 4 p.m. Volpe said the Owls, who were the coaches’ preseason choice to finish on top of the conference, still hope to make a run to the final.

“From the minute we got the bid [to host the conference tournament], it was my vision to see us in that championship match,” Volpe said.

Volpe said Rice needs to take advantage of the opportunity to host the tournament.

“When we come out strong and on top it does so much for our team,” Volpe said. “It gets us in a good mindset from the very beginning. Being at home and jumping on top is [a] two-fold [benefit], because you have the home-court advantage and you’re ahead — that does something to your opponent.”

In the tournament, Rice will be led by its two seniors, outside hitter Olaya Pazo and Hoban. Hoban, who tallied her fifth triple-double of the season against UH Nov. 10, was named C-USA setter of the week for her play against the Cougars. Volpe said Hoban, though often overlooked, will be a major factor for the Owls in the conference tournament.

“Kristina Hoban is the quiet element that is absolutely necessary,” Volpe said. “She knows her role and takes the pressure well.”

Pazo, who was recently named to the all-C-USA first team, averaged 4.74 kills per game this season. Pazo said the Owls need to maintain their focus this weekend.

“If we come in focused and ready to fight, [we can] overcome everything,” Pazo said. “We can definitely win the conference tournament.”

The conference tournament is single elimination, and Hoban said the Owls will not take any of their opponents lightly.

“We need to respect all the teams that are going to come play us,” Hoban said. “This is it — if you lose, you’re out.”

In its win over UH last week, Rice won the first two games and narrowly lost the third game — the Cougars scored six straight points to win 31-29. The Owls won the fourth game 30-14. Freshman outside hitter Karyn Morgan tied a career high with 21 kills and Hoban netted a triple-double with 10 kills, 12 digs and 52 assists. Junior middle blocker Tessa Kuykendall had 14 kills and earned all-CUSA honors as a third-team selection.

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