Wednesday, September 20
Houston, TX
6 p.m.
Rice University
vs
UAB
Preview | Volleyball Hosts UAB in First-Ever AAC Match
9/19/2023 2:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Match 11 | Rice Owls vs. UAB Blazers | Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m.
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 22-6 Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-1 (10/14/22)
SETTING THE SCENE
The Owls will play their first-ever American Athletic Conference match this Wednesday, Sept. 20, when it hosts UAB at 6 p.m.
RICE NOTES
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 22-6 Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-1 (10/14/22)
The Owls will play their first-ever American Athletic Conference match this Wednesday, Sept. 20, when it hosts UAB at 6 p.m.
- Rice is receiving votes in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Top 25 Poll. The Owls received 15 votes in the Top 25.
- Days after being named to K-State Invitational Most Valuable Player, senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley was named to the American Athletic Conference's Honor Roll. Courtley averaged 4.45 kills per set, 5.05 points with a .316 hitting percentage while also adding 1.18 digs per set. She began the week hitting .280 with team-highs of 10 kills and 11.0 points at No. 6 Texas. She also added four digs. She began the K-State Invitational by leading Rice to a five-set thriller over Long Island, putting together 16 kills and team-high 18.5 points while adding four blocks. One day later, she led the Owls to a sweep of host Kansas State, recording a career-high 23 kills, an average of 7.67, while hitting .404. Courtley also added five digs and three blocks while leading all players with 26.0 points. For the week, she notched 49 kills, 13 digs. 9.0 blocks and 55.5 points.
- As a team, the Owls currently lead the nation in digs per set with 18.59. They are also 18th in opponent hitting percentage at .145.
- Senior libero Nia McCardell leads the American and is 12th in the country in digs per set (5.26). Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley is third in the AAC with 3.76 kills per set.
- The Owls were picked to finish second in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll behind SMU, receiving six first place votes.
- Graduate student Emilia Weske (right side) and seniors Danyle Courtley (outside hitter), Nia McCardell (libero) and Sahara Maruska (outside hitter) were all named to the American Preseason Team.
- Dating back to 2014 the Owls are 105-21 (.833) in conference play, which includes a 62-4 (.939) record the last five seasons. Rice is 39-1 in conference regular season contests dating back to the 2019 season.
- The Owls are 15-14 against Power 5 schools dating back to 2019 and have recorded five Top-25 victories during that stretch.
- Rice has appeared in the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive seasons. Last season the Owls defeated Colorado in the opening round of the tournament to advance to the Round of 32 for the third time in the last four seasons.
- The Owls are one of only three programs in the state of Texas to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five seasons, joining Texas and Baylor. Additionally, Rice is one of just 18 programs across Division I to reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five seasons.
- Rice returned nine letterwinners and four starters from last season's NCAA Tournament team.
- Head Coach Genny Volpe is in her 20th season with the Owls and is the school's all-time leader in total wins (382) and winning percentage (.653).
- The Owls will be looking to fill the shoes of a pair of All-Americans. Outside hitter Anota Adekunle, finished her career as Rice's all-time leader in hitting percentage (.408) and setter Carly Graham was a three-time Conference USA Setter of the Year.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
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