WACO, Texas— Following a week of two canceled and one postponed match, McNeese (5-4) struggled on offense in its 3-0 (13-25, 16-25, 18-25) loss to Rice at the Baylor Classic Friday evening.
 
The Cowgirls' offense felt the effects of not playing all week, ending the match with a .073 team hitting percent, including a negative hitting percent in the opening set. McNeese also struggled with the blocking of Rice, who ended the match with 12 team blocks and 22 block assists.
 
Meanwhile, Rice (5-4) ended the match with a .389 team hitting percent, committing only five errors in 90 attacks.
 
Macee Krpec led the Cowgirls in kills with seven while Aryn Johnson had six. Ceci Harness was credited with 19 assists and Lizzy Low led McNeese with nine digs.
 
Rice was led by Anota Adekunle who ended the match with 12 kills and seven blocks.
 
McNeese will conclude tournament action with a 2 p.m. match against #12 Baylor Saturday.
 
 
 Set 1
Rice jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held the lead throughout the set. Rice led 9-before scoring nine straight points to lead 18-7. A kill by Aryn Johnson and a Rice error stopped another scoring run but Rice would end the match on two kills to win the set 25-13.
 
 
Set 2
Macee Krpec gave the Cowgirls a quick 1-0 lead in the set following a kill and the teams traded points early on before the Owls scored five straight points to extend their lead to 13-6. The Cowgirls got within five points (12-17) following a kill by Regan Stiawalt but Rice would go on a 5-1 run to lead 22-13 before closing out the set on a McNeese hitting error.
 
Set 3
For second straight set both teams traded points early in the set but the Cowgirls couldn't get the break it needed to take the lead. With McNeese trailing 15-12 following a Jaylin Gordon kill, Rice scored the next four points to lead 19-12. A kill by Bria Plante brought McNeese within four points (21-17) but Rice would outscore the Cowgirls 4-1 the rest of the way to take the set and the match.