Rice University
Charlotte
PREVIEW: Volleyball Hosts Charlotte, Heads to UTSA in Weekend Action
11/1/2024 9:26:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Series: Rice leads, 12-0
Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-1 (Oct. 8, 2023)
Match 21 | Rice Owls at UTSA Roadrunners | Sunday, November 3 | 1 p.m.
Location: San Antonio, Texas (UTSA Convocation Center)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series: Rice leads, 32-7
Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-0 (Sept. 29. 2024)
HOUSTON - The Rice Owls volleyball team prepares for another weekend of American Athletic Conference action, taking on Charlotte in Tudor Fieldhouse on Friday before making a return trip to UTSA on Sunday.
TOP OF THE PACK
Rice was voted as the favorite in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time since joining the conference. The Owls earned eight of the 12 available first place votes (coaches could not vote for their own team).
QUEEN NIA
Fifth year defensive specialist and libero Nia McCardell is the third player in school history to register 2,000 digs, coming on Sunday, 10/27, at Temple. (1. Tracey Lamb, 07-10, 2,399, 2. Daniela Arenas, 11-14, 2,162).
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Since 2014, Rice has compiled a 125-30 (.807) record in conference play, including a 70-11 (.864) mark in the previous six seasons.
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
Rice has earned at least one AAC weekly honor in seven of nine weeks. After week one, the Owls had three honorees in Nia McCardell (DPOTW), Savannah Skopal (SOTW), and Lademi Ogunlana (honorable mention). Week two saw Cindy Tchouangwa earn an honorable mention, & week four saw her win offensive POTW. Week five saw Tchouangwa earn another honorable mention while week six saw Samarah Hill and Gaby Mansfield nab honorable mentions. Week seven saw Ogunlana and Tchouangwa both take honorable mentions, while week nine saw Jensen and McCardell earn honorable mentions.
VERY MINDFUL, VERY DEMI-URE
Middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana cemented herself in the Rice history books against East Carolina as the first player ever to post a 1.000 hitting percentage with 10+ attempts. Ogunlana went 11/11 against the Pirates.
STARTING STRONG
Rice is 6-0 to open conference play for the second-straight season. Rice's opponents through the first five games have all been strong opponents, with only one team yet to earn a AAC win.
PEAK PER-FORMANCE
Rice has been in the top three in the AAC stat reports in kills per set, assists per set, and digs per set all season thus far.
THREE BIG ONES
Rice won its 300th conference match on Friday, October 25, against Tulane. This figure includes all conference Rice has been a part of, including the Southwest Conference, the WAC, Conference USA, and now the American.
HOME SWEET HOME
Since 2018, the Owls have protected their home court, holding a 72-11 (.866) mark. In fact, since 2014, they are 116-23 (.833). Rice has been even better on their home court against conference opponents, having won 31 of its last 33 home conference matches dating back to the 2020-21 spring season. Since the 2015 season, Rice is 61-4 (.937) in conference home matches.
