Tuesday, September 7
Houston, TX
6:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
vs
Houston Baptist
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Owls Continue Homestand, Host Houston Baptist
9/6/2021 12:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
First serve scheduled for 6 p.m.
Match 5 | vs. Houston Baptist Huskies | Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m.
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 12-0 (Last Meeting: Won (3-0), 9/10/19)
**Fans will be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing while observing this week's matches.No concessions will be available.
SETTING THE SCENE
Fresh off of a 3-1 victory over SMU, the Rice Owls (1-3) return to the court to continue their five-match homestand this Tuesday (6 p.m.) when they host the Houston Baptist Huskies (5-2) from Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls are 12-0 all-time against HBU, including a 3-0 sweep the last time the two teams played back in 2019.
The Huskies are coming off a 3-0 weekend by sweeping their home tournament against Lamar, Louisiana Tech, and Prairie View.
NOTES
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 12-0 (Last Meeting: Won (3-0), 9/10/19)
**Fans will be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing while observing this week's matches.No concessions will be available.
SETTING THE SCENE
Fresh off of a 3-1 victory over SMU, the Rice Owls (1-3) return to the court to continue their five-match homestand this Tuesday (6 p.m.) when they host the Houston Baptist Huskies (5-2) from Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls are 12-0 all-time against HBU, including a 3-0 sweep the last time the two teams played back in 2019.
The Huskies are coming off a 3-0 weekend by sweeping their home tournament against Lamar, Louisiana Tech, and Prairie View.
NOTES
- On Monday, junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. Over eight sets, Adekunle amassed 41 kills (5.12 kills per set) on 73 attacks for a highly efficient .493 hitting clip. Adekunle played a major role in helping guide the Owls to their first win of the season by setting a school record by a middle blocker with a career-high 28 kills on 44 attacks (.568). The 28 kills were tied for the most by a C-USA player this season and the .568 hitting percentage ranked second.
- Senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon currently ranks No. 2 in NCAA Division I in active career kills with 1,808, as well as career attacks (4,802). She's also one of just three active players that have amassed 1,000+ career kills and 1,000+ career digs (1,313). Lennon will enter play on Tuesday needing 23 kills to surpass Rice legend Sammy Waldron for the second-most kills in program history.
- The Owls were picked to repeat as C-USA West division champions in the Coaches 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.
- 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 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 currently ranked in the AVCA Top-25.
- Rice returns 14 letterwinners and all six starters along with their libero from last season's championship team.
- Genny Volpe is in her 18th season with the Owls and is the school's all-time leader in totals wins (330) and winning percentage (.634). She notched her ninth, 20-plus win season for the Owls last year while collecting her 300th career win.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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