Owls drop Conference Home Opener against ECU

HOUSTON — Rice volleyball opened American Conference play with a 3-1 loss to East Carolina on Friday at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls (6-7, 0-1) dropped the first set 25-15 before responding with a 25-18 win in the second. ECU took the third set 25-23 and closed out the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth. Rice hit .157 for the match, while East Carolina posted a .242 hitting percentage. Sydnee Peterson led the Owls with 18 kills and recorded her sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 13 digs. Kaia Mateo paced the offense with 37 assists, while…