Rice University
Memphis
PREVIEW: Volleyball Concludes Regular Season Against Memphis, at North Texas
11/14/2024 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Location: Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Series: Rice leads, 6-4
Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-1 (Oct. 6, 2023)
Promotion: Senior Night
Match 25 | Rice Owls at North Texas Mean Green | Sunday, November 17 | 1 p.m.
Location: Denton, Texas (UNT Volleyball Center)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series: Rice leads, 20-7
Last Meeting: Rice won, 3-0 (Oct. 11, 2024)
HOUSTON - The Rice Owls volleyball team will conclude the 2024 regular season with its final two matches this week, hosting Memphis for Senior Night on Friday, November 15 at 6 p.m. before heading to Denton to take on North Texas on Sunday, November 17 at 1 p.m.
THIS IS IT
Entering the final week of the regular season, Rice and South Florida are currently tied for first in the conference standings. However, if the two hold steady in the standings, the Bulls would take the top seed due to the head-to-head over the Owls. Rice can finish in first with one more win than USF.
TIE BREAKING SCENARIOS
Rice can finish NO LOWER than second in the AAC due to the season sweep over Wichita State. If South Florida loses one game this weekend, the Owls must win both games to claim the regular season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. If USF were to lose both matches this weekend, Rice would only need to win one to claim the top spot.
AND THE CHERRY ON TOP
The top seed isn't the only thing that teams are competing for in the American. The regular season champion and the #1 seed in the tournament also gets the privilege of hosting the 2025 AAC Championship on their home floor. Rice last hosted a conference tournament in 2019, when the Conference USA Volleyball Championship was in Tudor Fieldhouse. Prior to that, Rice also hosted conference tournaments in 2016 (C-USA) and 1994 (SWC).
HOME SWEET HOME
Since 2018, the Owls have protected their home court, holding a 74-11 (.866) mark. In fact, since 2014, they are 118-23 (.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 63-4 (.937) in conference home matches.
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 129-30 (.807) record in conference play, including a 74-11 (.864) mark in the
previous six seasons.
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.
