Volleyball Announces 2023 Fall Schedule
6/1/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — The Rice Volleyball team begins its first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference this year, announcing its 2023 Fall schedule on Thursday. Its tough slate includes a total of eight teams that finished the 2022 season in the Top 100 in RPI and five 2022 NCAA participants.
Rice, who finished 27-4 last year, won the Conference USA championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 as part of its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, will face three teams that finished the year in the AVCA's Top 25 poll and nine squads that notched at least 20 victories.
"In creating our non-conference schedule, we felt it was imperative that we compete against some of the very best teams in the country," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "We not only will have the chance to play against top 25 teams, we will play three opponents that will likely be in the top 10."
The Owls begin the season by hosting an exhibition match against crosstown rival Houston on Aug. 19. Rice opens the regular season at home for the first time since the 2020-21 spring season when it hosts Southern Miss and USC on back-to-back days, Aug. 25-26. Last year, Southern Miss participated in NIVC while USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
After a midweek home game against Louisiana on Aug. 29, Rice will travel to Waco to face Baylor on Sept. 1. The Bears finished last year ranked 15th in the AVCA poll after advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
The Owls will face its second straight tournament team on Sept. 5 when it hosts Pac-12 champion Stanford. The Cardinal advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight and finished the year ranked sixth in the AVCA poll.
Rice welcomes Houston Christian and Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 8-9 as part of the Rice Invitational. HCU participated in the NIVC while FGCU made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Owls will then face former Southwest Conference foe and defending national champion Texas on Sept. 11 in Austin. It will be just the second time in its history, and the first since 1989, that Rice will face the defending national champion.
Rice closes non-conference play Sept. 15-16 when it travels to Manhattan, Kan., for the K-State Invitational, where it will face LIU and Kansas State.
The Owls begin their inaugural season in the AAC on Sept. 20 when it hosts UAB. Rice then heads to Tulsa for a pair of matches on Sept. 23-24.
Rice welcomes UTSA to Tudor Fieldhouse for two matches on Sept. 29-30. The Owls then begin a two-match road trip, beginning Oct. 6 at Memphis. They will then face Charlotte on Oct. 8.
Rice will welcome Florida Atlantic for a single match on Oct. 13 before heading North to Dallas for a two-match swing at SMU on Oct. 20-21.
The Owls begin a four-match homestand on Oct. 27 against East Carolina. Two days later, they welcome Temple to Tudor Fieldhouse. They close the homestand, Nov. 3-4, with a pair of matches against Tulane.
Two matches at North Texas will take place on Nov. 10-11. Rice will host Senior Day as part of a pair of matches against Wichita State (Nov. 17-18).
The regular season concludes on Nov. 22 when the Owls travel to Tampa, Fla., to face South Florida.
Volpe added, "This season will no doubt bring some challenging matches both at home and away, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Our players crave this type of competition, knowing we will learn the most about ourselves in very challenging situations. Our goal is to be well prepared for American Athletic Conference play and to have the opportunity to earn significant wins in the preseason. We are excited to create new rivalries in the AAC and are really striving to have a great year one in the new league."
Secure your season tickets now by logging on to RiceOwls.com/myaccount or visiting RiceOwls.com/23VBTix. Fans interested in group experiences can learn more at RiceOwls.com/groups or submit an interest form here and a member of the Rice ticket sales staff will follow up.
Rice, who finished 27-4 last year, won the Conference USA championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 as part of its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, will face three teams that finished the year in the AVCA's Top 25 poll and nine squads that notched at least 20 victories.
"In creating our non-conference schedule, we felt it was imperative that we compete against some of the very best teams in the country," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "We not only will have the chance to play against top 25 teams, we will play three opponents that will likely be in the top 10."
The Owls begin the season by hosting an exhibition match against crosstown rival Houston on Aug. 19. Rice opens the regular season at home for the first time since the 2020-21 spring season when it hosts Southern Miss and USC on back-to-back days, Aug. 25-26. Last year, Southern Miss participated in NIVC while USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
After a midweek home game against Louisiana on Aug. 29, Rice will travel to Waco to face Baylor on Sept. 1. The Bears finished last year ranked 15th in the AVCA poll after advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
The Owls will face its second straight tournament team on Sept. 5 when it hosts Pac-12 champion Stanford. The Cardinal advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight and finished the year ranked sixth in the AVCA poll.
Rice welcomes Houston Christian and Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 8-9 as part of the Rice Invitational. HCU participated in the NIVC while FGCU made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Owls will then face former Southwest Conference foe and defending national champion Texas on Sept. 11 in Austin. It will be just the second time in its history, and the first since 1989, that Rice will face the defending national champion.
Rice closes non-conference play Sept. 15-16 when it travels to Manhattan, Kan., for the K-State Invitational, where it will face LIU and Kansas State.
The Owls begin their inaugural season in the AAC on Sept. 20 when it hosts UAB. Rice then heads to Tulsa for a pair of matches on Sept. 23-24.
Rice welcomes UTSA to Tudor Fieldhouse for two matches on Sept. 29-30. The Owls then begin a two-match road trip, beginning Oct. 6 at Memphis. They will then face Charlotte on Oct. 8.
Rice will welcome Florida Atlantic for a single match on Oct. 13 before heading North to Dallas for a two-match swing at SMU on Oct. 20-21.
The Owls begin a four-match homestand on Oct. 27 against East Carolina. Two days later, they welcome Temple to Tudor Fieldhouse. They close the homestand, Nov. 3-4, with a pair of matches against Tulane.
Two matches at North Texas will take place on Nov. 10-11. Rice will host Senior Day as part of a pair of matches against Wichita State (Nov. 17-18).
The regular season concludes on Nov. 22 when the Owls travel to Tampa, Fla., to face South Florida.
Volpe added, "This season will no doubt bring some challenging matches both at home and away, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Our players crave this type of competition, knowing we will learn the most about ourselves in very challenging situations. Our goal is to be well prepared for American Athletic Conference play and to have the opportunity to earn significant wins in the preseason. We are excited to create new rivalries in the AAC and are really striving to have a great year one in the new league."
Secure your season tickets now by logging on to RiceOwls.com/myaccount or visiting RiceOwls.com/23VBTix. Fans interested in group experiences can learn more at RiceOwls.com/groups or submit an interest form here and a member of the Rice ticket sales staff will follow up.
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