Volleyball Falls to Rice in Four Sets

Friday, November 1

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

-1014, 28 CUSA

Rice

-717, 46 CUSA

RICE

FAU

11/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Nov. 2, 2013

FAU-Rice Box Score (HTML)

FAU-Rice Box Score(PDF)

Ivana Bulajic tied her career high with 16 kills, but it was not enough as the Florida Atlantic University volleyball team lost to Rice in four sets (27-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-18) on Friday night.

The first set was close the entire way, featuring 12 ties and five lead changes. FAU (10-14, 2-8 C-USA) led 24-22 late in the set, but Rice (7-17, 4-6) was able to hold off three set points and rallied to take the set 27-25.

FAU roared out to a huge lead in the second set, but Rice fought all the way back to tie the score at 22. The score was even again at 23, when back-to-back kills by Bulajic and Kristi Tekavec gave FAU the win and tied the match at one set each.

In the third set, it was Texas' version of the Owls to get out to a big advantage, eventually winning the frame 25-15. Set number four started out similar to the first set, with neither team able to maintain control. The score was tied at seven, when Rice scored four straight points to go ahead 11-7. FAU cut the lead to one on three separate occasions, but could never catch up, eventually losing 25-18.

Bulajic was joined in double-digit kills by Katarina Stepanovic (15), while Alessia Pizzoccheri and Kristi Tekavec had 10 each. Pizzoccheri added with Jelena Jovanovic with a team-high 16 digs. Pizzoccheri and Jovanovic each had a double-double on the night.

FAU will travel to Ruston on Friday, Nov. 8 to face Louisiana Tech at 8 p.m. eastern.