AUSTIN, Texas — A special season came to a close for San Diego volleyball on Thursday evening after it dropped a tough 3-0 decision to Rice in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Gregory Gymnasium.

The defeat came despite junior Grace Frohling tying the match-high with 15 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set - (Rice, 25-20)

• The Toreros got out to an early lead via kills from Frohling and senior Katie Lukes, plus two from sophomore Kylie Pries, moving the score to 4-1.
• After falling behind, a kill from senior Laura Madill pulled USD back within three at 12-9 Rice.
• The Toreros again cut the deficit to three via an ace from Lukes at 23-20 Owls, but would get no closer, losing the first set 25-20 to Rice.

Second Set - (Rice, 25-19)

• USD again got out to an early lead, enjoying a 2-1 advantage via kills from Frohling and sophomore Leyla Blackwell.
• A big block from freshman Haylee Stoner tied the set at four, then an ace from senior libero Annie Benbow got the Toreros back within a point after falling behind at 10-9 Rice.
• Senior Gabby Goddard checked in midway through the set and made an impact instantly, halting an Owls run with a kill to make the score 15-10 Rice.
• Kills from Frohling, Lukes, and Madill weren't enough down the stretch, dealing USD a 25-19 defeat in the second to move the match score to 2-0 Owls.

Third Set - (Rice, 25-20)

• By far the most closely contested of the three, the third set began with a back-and-forth battle that culminated in ties at three, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 12, and 13 points apiece, with Frohling, Pries, Lukes, and Blackwell doing much of the damage early on.
• After falling behind, Benbow brought the Toreros back within four with a service ace, moving the score to 19-14 Rice.
• USD cut the deficit to three courtesy of an error from the Owls at 20-17, then did so again at 22-19 via a service ace from Lukes.
• The Toreros were within four at 24-20 Rice, but dropped a 25-20 decision in the set and a 3-0 decision in the match to conclude their season.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Lukes had the second-most kills in the match with nine, more than all but one Rice player.
• Blackwell led the way with three blocks (one solo), while Pries, Madill, Stoner, Frohling, and Terçariol each had a block assist.
• Pries added six kills, Blackwell had three, senior libero Camryn Tastad and Goddard had two, and Benbow recorded nine digs, tied for the second-most in the match.
• Terçariol had 16 assists, complemented by 14 from Madill.
• USD finished its 2021 campaign at 20-8 (14-4 WCC) and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive season, marking the 25th overall postseason appearance in program history.
• Seven players earned All-West Coast Conference honors.
• Rice's sweep of San Diego marks just the third time the Toreros have been swept (No. 1 Texas, August 27; No. 4 BYU, November 23).