Volleyball Signs Two for 2024
11/10/2023 9:59:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball head coach Genny Volpe announced on Friday the addition of two student-athletes for the 2024 season. Joining the Owls will be Thea Carter (San Antonio, Texas) and Savannah Skopal (Round Rock, Texas).
Thea Carter, a 6-3 middle blocker from San Antonio, Texas, was named an AVCA Girls High School Second Team All-American. Across three seasons at Alamo Heights HS, Carter tallied 1,035 kills on a .317 hitting percentage and recorded 116 service aces. Defensively, Carter registered 493 digs and 183 total blocks during her high school career. She helped the Mules to an undefeated district championship season her junior year and was named the 2021 District Newcomer of the Year, first-team all-district in both 2021 and 2022, and was named to the TGCA all-star and all-state teams in 2022.
"Thea is one of the best middle blockers in the state of Texas," Volpe said. "However, she can also play at the pin, which makes her really special. Her lateral speed, versatile attacking abilities and her size make her a force at the net. We couldn't be more excited to add Thea to our team."
Savannah Skopal, a 6-0 setter from Round Rock, Texas, was named an AVCA Girls High School First Team All-American. A four-year letterwinner at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas, Skopal broke her school's all-time assist record with 5,295 assists, adding 1,305 digs and 416 kills during her high school career. She is a three-time AVCA Phenom. She was named all-state in both her freshman and sophomore years and was named the district setter of the year as a freshman. In her junior season, she was named to the TGCA all-state team and was named the super elite 5A all-star team MVP.
"Savannah is one of the most decorated setters in the country," Volpe said. "She's a winner and, in my opinion, makes people around her better. She can run a sophisticated offense and is such a strong yet positive presence on the floor. We are extremely excited that Savannah will be wearing the blue and gray this fall."