Preview | Volleyball Hosts Two-Match Set Against UTSA

Calendar

Women's Volleyball

vs Wichita State

Oct 19

1 PM

Houston, Texas

Women's Volleyball

vs UTSA

Oct 24

6 PM

Houston, Texas

Women's Volleyball

vs Tulane

Oct 26

1 PM

Houston, Texas

Women's Volleyball

at East Carolina

Oct 31

5 PM

Greenville, N.C.

Women's Volleyball

at Charlotte

Nov 2

12 PM

Women's Volleyball

vs North Texas

Nov 7

6 PM

Houston, Texas

Women's Volleyball

vs Florida Atlantic

Nov 9

1 PM

Houston, Texas

Match 14 | Rice Owls vs. UTSA Roadrunners | Friday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 28-7 Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-0 (10/28/22)

Match 15 | Rice Owls vs. UTSA Roadrunners | Saturday, Sept. 30, 1 p.m.
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series: Rice leads, 28-7 Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-0 (10/28/22)

SETTING THE SCENE
Rice puts its five-match winning streak on the line when it returns home this Friday, Sept. 29, against UTSA at 6 p.m.

The teams will then play a rematch on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.

RICE NOTES

Rice is receiving votes in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Top 25 Poll. The Owls received 11 votes in the Top 25.
After helping the squad to a 3-0 start in AAC play, senior libero Nia McCardell was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week while senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska was named to the Honor Roll. McCardell averaged 5.64 digs per set while adding 1.45 assists per set. Maruska averaged a team-best 3.73 kills per set, 3.95 points with a .254 hitting percentage while also adding 2.82 digs per set.
As a team, the Owls currently lead the nation in digs per set with 19.38. They are also 20th in opponent hitting percentage at .151.
Senior libero Nia McCardell leads the American and is ninth in the country in digs per set (5.36). Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley is third in the AAC in both kills per set (3.76) and points per set (4.09).
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 108-21 (.837) in conference play, which includes a 65-4 (.942) record the last five seasons. Rice is 42-1 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 (385) and winning percentage (.655).
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-

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