WACO – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team fell to Rice 0-3 (17-25, 22-25, 18-25) in the opening match of the Baylor Classic on Friday at the Ferrell Center.
 
Senior Ragni Steen Knudsen led UTRGV (5-4) with 11 kills, nine digs and two blocks. Freshman Pamela Moeira recorded nine kills and three aces.
 
Nicole Lennon led Rice (6-2) with 14 kills, 10 digs and seven blocks.
 
UTRGV got off to a hot start, scoring the first five points of the match on two Kundsen kills, a kill by junior Barbara Silva, a block by Silva and junior Talita Oliveira, and an attack error. Rice called timeout and responded with a 15-3 run, winning the last 10 serves of that run, to take a 15-8 lead. UTRGV scored seven of the next 11 points to pull within 15-19, but Rice closed the set on a 6-2 run.
 
The second set was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than three at any point. Rice took its largest leads before the end of the set at 10-7 and 16-13. Kills by Knudsen and senior Alexandra Ecker helped UTRGV to tie the set at 16. The set was also tied at 17 on another Knudsen kill. UTRGV was then within 20-21 after back-to-back Moreira kills, but that's as close as UTRGV got.
 
UTRGV jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set on a Knudsen kill. Rice responded with a 9-1 en route to pushing its lead to 18-10. UTRGV scored the next three points to pull within five, but Rice scored four in a row to go up nine. A pair of Moreira aces helped UTRGV win five-straight serves to get as close as 18-22 before Rice scored the final three points to end the match.
 
UTRGV faces host No. 15 Baylor on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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