Friday, August 31
Houston, TX
6:30 pm CT
Rice University
vs
South Carolina
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Volleyball Set to Host Adidas Invitational I
8/29/2018 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Owls to make 2018 home debut
HOUSTON - After a 2-1 stint at the Red Raider Classic last weekend, the Rice Owls volleyball team returns to Houston for their first home matches of the season this weekend when they host the four-team Rice Adidas Invitational I tournament at Tudor Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
The Owls will welcome South Carolina, Liberty, and Houston Baptist for the two day event, which gets underway Friday morning.
Rice is slated for its home opener at 6:30 p.m. Friday against South Carolina. The Owls will take on Liberty at 11 a.m. Saturday, before rounding out the event against Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
CUSAtv will provide streams of all the Rice matches while live stats for all matches will be available through RiceOwls.com. Stay updated with all things Rice volleyball by following the Owls on Twitter and Instagram at @RiceVolleyball as well as online at www.RiceOwls.com.
PROMOTIONS & TICKETS
FRI, 6:30 PM (South Carolina) - Free Rice Volleyball T-shirts for the first 100 fans
General admission tickets are $10 and $8 for youth (ages 3-17). Tickets will be sold as all-day passes for Friday and Saturday. Fans can buy online here or by contacting the Rice Athletics Ticket Office at (713) 348-OWLS (6957). The box office at Tudor Fieldhouse will begin operating one hour prior to first serve.
TEAM NOTES
Houston Baptist (2018 Record: 4-0, Southland Conference | Series Record: Rice leads 10-0)
The Huskies are led by three returning starters in senior middle blocker Kayla Davenport, a Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team selection, senior setter Madison O'Brien and sophomore right side Ashtyn Richey. In addition, sophomore outside hitter Mikayla Vivens leads the team through four matches with 51 kills. Last season HBU posted its second 20-win season (21-10) under head coach Trent Herman, tying for third in the SLC with an 11-5 mark.
Liberty (2018 Record: 1-2, Atlantic Sun Conference | Series Record: Rice leads 1-0)
Liberty begins play in the ASUN Conference this year after a successful 27-year stint in the Big South Conference. Trevor Johnson takes over the program after spending the last two seasons as top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M. Junior middle blocker Anna Gragg is a two-time Big South All-Conference performer, including first-team honors in 2017. Gregg leads the Lady Flames this year with 30 kills in three sets while hitting .284.
South Carolina (2018 Record: 3-0, Southeastern Conference | Series Record: South Carolina leads 3-2)
The Gamecocks are led by new head coach Tom Mendoza, who comes to South Carolina after spending the past two seasons as head coach at High Point. Junior Mikayla Shields, who is tied for the team-lead with 20 kills, leads the way after being named to the the 14-woman All-Southeast Region team from the AVCA.
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's tournament finale, Rice will host Texas State on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year's NIVC opening round matchup.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls will welcome South Carolina, Liberty, and Houston Baptist for the two day event, which gets underway Friday morning.
Rice is slated for its home opener at 6:30 p.m. Friday against South Carolina. The Owls will take on Liberty at 11 a.m. Saturday, before rounding out the event against Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
CUSAtv will provide streams of all the Rice matches while live stats for all matches will be available through RiceOwls.com. Stay updated with all things Rice volleyball by following the Owls on Twitter and Instagram at @RiceVolleyball as well as online at www.RiceOwls.com.
PROMOTIONS & TICKETS
FRI, 6:30 PM (South Carolina) - Free Rice Volleyball T-shirts for the first 100 fans
General admission tickets are $10 and $8 for youth (ages 3-17). Tickets will be sold as all-day passes for Friday and Saturday. Fans can buy online here or by contacting the Rice Athletics Ticket Office at (713) 348-OWLS (6957). The box office at Tudor Fieldhouse will begin operating one hour prior to first serve.
TEAM NOTES
- Rice is coming off a 2-1 performance at the Red Raider Classic in Lubbock, defeating North Dakota in the season opener (3-1) followed by a sweep of Northwestern State, before falling five sets to tournament champion Texas Tech.
- Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Lennon and junior middle blocker Grace Morgan were each named to the Red Raider Classic All-Tournament Team. The duo each recorded a match-high 18 kills on Saturday and combined for 41.5 points.
- For the weekend, Lennon totaled a team-best 52 kills (4.33 per set) on 127 attacks with a team-high 60.5 points. The Katy, Texas native also notched her first double-double of the season on Saturday with 15 digs to go along with the 18 kills. She'll enter this weekend 23 kills away for 500 for her career.
- Morgan's weekend totals included 34 kills (3.09 per set) while hitting a team-high .422. She also led all Owls with 13 blocks (1.18 per set) and totaled 42.0 points.
- The Owls lead all of C-USA in kills per set (14.50-32nd in nation) and digs per set (17.33-42nd in nation).
Houston Baptist (2018 Record: 4-0, Southland Conference | Series Record: Rice leads 10-0)
The Huskies are led by three returning starters in senior middle blocker Kayla Davenport, a Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team selection, senior setter Madison O'Brien and sophomore right side Ashtyn Richey. In addition, sophomore outside hitter Mikayla Vivens leads the team through four matches with 51 kills. Last season HBU posted its second 20-win season (21-10) under head coach Trent Herman, tying for third in the SLC with an 11-5 mark.
Liberty (2018 Record: 1-2, Atlantic Sun Conference | Series Record: Rice leads 1-0)
Liberty begins play in the ASUN Conference this year after a successful 27-year stint in the Big South Conference. Trevor Johnson takes over the program after spending the last two seasons as top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M. Junior middle blocker Anna Gragg is a two-time Big South All-Conference performer, including first-team honors in 2017. Gregg leads the Lady Flames this year with 30 kills in three sets while hitting .284.
South Carolina (2018 Record: 3-0, Southeastern Conference | Series Record: South Carolina leads 3-2)
The Gamecocks are led by new head coach Tom Mendoza, who comes to South Carolina after spending the past two seasons as head coach at High Point. Junior Mikayla Shields, who is tied for the team-lead with 20 kills, leads the way after being named to the the 14-woman All-Southeast Region team from the AVCA.
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's tournament finale, Rice will host Texas State on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year's NIVC opening round matchup.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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