No. 23 Owls Set to Debut Against No. 9 Pitt, South Carolina

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at Memphis

Oct 5

1 PM

Memphis, Tenn.

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Oct 10

6 PM

Houston, Texas

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Oct 12

1 PM

San Antonio, Texas

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Oct 15

6:30 PM

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Oct 19

1 PM

Houston, Texas

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vs UTSA

Oct 24

6 PM

Houston, Texas

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vs Tulane

Oct 26

1 PM

Houston, Texas

Match 1 | vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers | Friday, Aug. 27, 4 p.m. (CT)
Location: Columbia, S.C. (Carolina Volleyball Center)
Video Stream: None
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series: Pitt leads, 2-0 (Last Meeting: Pitt Won 3-1, 11/25/95)

Match 2 | at South Carolina Gamecocks | Saturday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C. (Carolina Volleyball Center)
Video Stream: SEC Network+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series: Tied, 3-3 (Last Meeting: Rice Won 3-1, 8/31/18)

NOTES

Rice is 21-20 all-time in season-opening matches.
No. 23 Rice enters a season ranked in the AVCA Top-25 for the first time in program history after yet another banner season in the spring. The Owls ended last season ranked No. 23 in the final AVCA Poll, which was also the first time Rice concluded a season ranked in the Top-25. The Owls have now appeared in the AVCA Top-25 Poll 15 times over the last three seasons.
The Owls were picked to repeat as C-USA West division champions in the newly released Preseason Poll, earning all seven first place votes. Last season Rice won all 12 matches during league play, earning the West division conference championship and completing the first undefeated campaign within league play in program history.
Rice senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon was once again named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, marking the second time in her illustrious career. Lennon, who also became the first Owl to receive AVCA Third Team All-American honors last season, earned the C-USA Postseason Player of the Year award last year. Lennon ranked second in C-USA last season in points per set (5.03), total kills (329), total points (387.5), kills per set (4.27), attacks per set (10.97), and total attacks (845).
In addition to Lennon, junior setter Carly Graham and junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle were both selected to the C-USA Preseason Team. Graham earned her first C-USA Preseason Team nod after a season in which she received C-USA Setter of the Year honors. A VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention All-American last year, Graham orchestrated a Rice offense that ranked 19th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.268) and earned C-USA First Team and AVCA Southwest Region accolades in her first full season as the Owls primary setter. Adekunle returns for a fourth season as a stabilizing force in the middle for the Owls. She earned VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention All-American honors last spring following a season in which she ranked fourth in the NCAA Division I in hitting percentage (.463). Adekunle was named to the AVCA All-Region Team and the C-USA First Team after a season in which she hit .300 or better in 14 of 17 matches played.
The Owls have a loaded non-conference schedule in 2021 and are slated to face four teams ranked in the AVCA Preseason Top-15, including No. 9 Pittsburgh on Friday.
Rice is 6-1 in their last seven meetings against Power-5 programs.
The Owls earned their sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season and third straight overall after claiming their fourth at-large bid in program history. Unfortunately, the Owls were removed from the NCAA Tournament before their opening round match against North Carolina A&T due to COVID-19 policies.
Rice returns 14 letterwinners and all six starters along with their libero from last season's championship team.
The Owls defeated No. 2 Texas in Austin in the team's regular season finale last year, marking the second straight season Rice defeated the Longhorns in five sets. The victory snapped Texas' 33-match home winning streak in regular season contests and Texas was 20-0 entering the match, having won 22 of their previous 23 sets. Rice and Texas face-off again this season in Houston on Sept. 22.
Genny Volpe is in her 18th season with the Owls and is the school's all-time leader in totals wins (329) and winning percentage (.637). She notched her ninth, 20-plus win season for the Owls last year while collecting her 300th career win. Volpe graduated from Texas A&M and was a four-year letterwinner as a setter and outside hitter from 1990-93.

-RiceOwls.com-

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