Rice University
Middle Tennessee
Preview: Volleyball Continues Road Trip to Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss
10/4/2018 10:08:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Owls carry six-game winning streak to Murfreesboro
HOUSTON - Coming off perhaps their best weekend performance of the season, the Rice Owls volleyball team will carry their season-high six-match winning streak back on the road this weekend for a pair of C-USA matches, beginning Friday (7 p.m.) at Middle Tennessee (5-11, 0-3). The Owls will then trek to Hattiesburg, Miss. to take on Southern Miss (8-9, 2-2) on Sunday with first serve set for 1 p.m.
Rice (12-4, 3-0) defeated both UTSA (3-1) and WKU (3-1) last weekend, the second of which ended the Lady Toppers' streak of 57 consecutive C-USA home victories.
Stay updated with all things Rice volleyball this weekend by following the Owls on Twitter and Instagram at @RiceVolleyball as well as online at www.RiceOwls.com.
Rice Owls (12-4, 3-0 C-USA) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (5-11, 0-3 C-USA)
Friday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. (CT)
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
CUSAtv ($): Video Streaming
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceVolleyball
Series Record: Rice leads MT, 5-2
THE OPPOSITION
MT (2018 Record: 5-11, 0-3)
The Blue Raiders are coming off a 3-2 victory over Tennessee St. on Tuesday but have started C-USA play 0-3.Senior outside hitter Bailey Mason leads the Blue Raiders offensively with 163 kills (3.08 per set) followed by junior outside hitter Dora Peonia's 123 kills.
Rice Owls at Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-9, 2-2 C-USA)
Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. (CT)
Hattiesburg, Miss.
CUSAtv ($): Video Streaming
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceVolleyball
Series Record: Rice leads Southern Miss, 14-7
THE OPPOSITION
Southern Miss (2018 Record: 8-9, 2-2)
The Golden Eagles have won two of their last three matches, sandwiched around a 3-2 home loss to WKU. Like Rice, the Golden Eagles rank near the top in every defensive category in C-USA only matches: blocks (1st-3.50), opponent's hitting percentage (2nd-.164) and opponent's kills (2nd-12.00). Junior Catherine Repsher leads the league in blocks per set (1.63) while senior outside hitter Kylie Grandy is fourth in C-USA averaging 4.13 kills per set. Southern Miss defeated the Owls in five sets in last year's C-SA Tournament.
TEAM NOTES
- The Owls are ranked No. 25 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, the highest they've been since 2008. Rice's highest RPI ranking is No. 24 in 2004.
- Rice is also the highest ranked (29th) C-USA team in the recent Pablo Rankings. The Owls also were receiving 29 votes in the latest VolleyballMag.com Mid-Major rankings.
- C-USA recognized a trio of Owls as Players of the Week in Nicole Lennon, Lee Ann Cunningham and Carly Graham, the league office announced on Monday. Lennon was selected the Offensive Player of the Week, Cunningham collected Defensive Player of the Week honors, and Graham secured the league's Freshman of the Week award. Three weekly awards by the same team in the same week has occurred just five times in Conference USA history and marks the first time the Owls have accomplished the feat.
- Rice ranks top-20 in the nation in the following categories: assists per set (13th-13.44), digs per set (14th-17.79), kills per set (13th-14.33) and opponents hitting percentage (17th-.153).
