Wichita State Athletics

WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State volleyball fell to Rice in four sets Sunday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena, 25-18, 17-25, 25-11, 25-17.
 
The Shockers (5-15, 2-6 American) responded in the second set to even the match at one set apiece, but Rice (12-8, 6-2 American) took the final two sets to secure the victory.
 
McKenzie Jones led the Shockers with 10 kills, her fifth-straight match in double figures, while Olivia Cohee added nine kills and 11 digs. Maddie Wilson contributed eight kills and a team-high four block assists, and Danielle Moore and Janaya Weitkemper added eight and seven kills, respectively. Jordan Heatherly paced the offense with 23 assists, and Gabi Maas finished with a match-high 17 digs.
 
Rice claimed the first set, 25-18, led by Sydnee Peterson and Ashlyn Seay, who combined for 13 kills in the first frame and hit .619 as a duo. Wichita State found its rhythm in the second set, hitting .275 with 14 kills while holding Rice to a .108 attack percentage. The Shockers built momentum with a strong offensive showing from Moore to even the match at 1-1.
 
Rice regained control in the third set, hitting .414 with 13 kills to take a 25-11 decision. The Owls carried that momentum into the fourth set, hitting .433 to close out the match.
 
Rice outhit Wichita State .344 to .221 for the match and finished with 56 kills to the Shockers' 47. The Owls also recorded nine total team blocks compared to Wichita State's six.
 
Rice was led by Peterson, who recorded a match-high 17 kills, and Seay, who added 14 kills. Savannah Skopal dished out 46 assists.
 
The Shockers return to action Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. CT to face East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.