Volpe Named Coach of the Year; Six Owls Earn All-Conference Honors
11/20/2025 9:54:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
IRVING – Rice volleyball head coach Genny Volpe was named the American conference Coach of the Year and six Owls earned All-Conference honors, the league announced Thursday.
This marks Volpe's first American Coach of the Year honor since Rice joined the conference in 2023. She guided the Owls to a 15-1 league record and a 19-8 overall mark, building a challenging nonconference slate that featured six ranked opponents, the most in a single season since 1992. Rice enters the postseason on a record-tying 15-match winning streak. Volpe, who has 432 career victories, has led the Owls to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Rice placed two players on the All-Conference First Team: Kaia Mateo and Taylor Preston. Gaby Mansfield, Arissa Smith and Lademi Ogunlana earned Second Team honors. Aaliyah Smith was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Taylor Preston – Outside Hitter
Preston leads the conference with 4.54 kills per set and ranks second with 5.04 points per set in league play. She recorded her 1,000th career kill this season and has recorded five double-doubles. Preston earned two Offensive Player of the Week awards this season. She opened conference play with a season-high 27 kills against Temple.
Kaia Mateo – Setter
Mateo paced Rice's offense throughout its 15-match winning streak. She ranks second in the conference with 10.67 assists per set and surpassed 1,000 career assists this season. She has posted eight double-doubles in conference play and earned three straight Setter of the Week honors along with three honorable mentions. Mateo has also totaled 160 digs and 40 blocks in league play.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Gaby Mansfield – Libero
Mansfield has recorded 257 digs this season, averaging 4.59 per set, ranking second in the conference. She posted a season-high 24 digs at North Texas and has earned two Defensive Player of the Week awards and two honorable mentions.
Arissa Smith – Middle Blocker
Smith registered a season-high 10 blocks against Wichita State and leads the conference with 1.38 blocks per set. She ranks fifth with a .340 hitting percentage and hit a season-high .714 against UTSA.
Lademi Ogunlana – Middle Blocker
Ogunlana ranks seventh in the conference with a .333 hitting percentage and has hit .400 or better in nine matches, including a season-high .667 against UTSA. She earned an American Offensive Player of the Week honor and averages 2.06 kills per set with 51 total blocks.
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Aaliyah Smith – Outside Hitter
Smith, a two-time Freshman of the Week honoree, averages 2.89 kills per set and has recorded 24 blocks, 175 total points and a .220 hitting percentage this season.
UP NEXT
Rice enters the American conference tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face No. 8 UTSA on Friday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at The Corral in Tampa, Florida. The match will stream on ESPN+.
This marks Volpe's first American Coach of the Year honor since Rice joined the conference in 2023. She guided the Owls to a 15-1 league record and a 19-8 overall mark, building a challenging nonconference slate that featured six ranked opponents, the most in a single season since 1992. Rice enters the postseason on a record-tying 15-match winning streak. Volpe, who has 432 career victories, has led the Owls to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Rice placed two players on the All-Conference First Team: Kaia Mateo and Taylor Preston. Gaby Mansfield, Arissa Smith and Lademi Ogunlana earned Second Team honors. Aaliyah Smith was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Taylor Preston – Outside Hitter
Preston leads the conference with 4.54 kills per set and ranks second with 5.04 points per set in league play. She recorded her 1,000th career kill this season and has recorded five double-doubles. Preston earned two Offensive Player of the Week awards this season. She opened conference play with a season-high 27 kills against Temple.
Kaia Mateo – Setter
Mateo paced Rice's offense throughout its 15-match winning streak. She ranks second in the conference with 10.67 assists per set and surpassed 1,000 career assists this season. She has posted eight double-doubles in conference play and earned three straight Setter of the Week honors along with three honorable mentions. Mateo has also totaled 160 digs and 40 blocks in league play.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Gaby Mansfield – Libero
Mansfield has recorded 257 digs this season, averaging 4.59 per set, ranking second in the conference. She posted a season-high 24 digs at North Texas and has earned two Defensive Player of the Week awards and two honorable mentions.
Arissa Smith – Middle Blocker
Smith registered a season-high 10 blocks against Wichita State and leads the conference with 1.38 blocks per set. She ranks fifth with a .340 hitting percentage and hit a season-high .714 against UTSA.
Lademi Ogunlana – Middle Blocker
Ogunlana ranks seventh in the conference with a .333 hitting percentage and has hit .400 or better in nine matches, including a season-high .667 against UTSA. She earned an American Offensive Player of the Week honor and averages 2.06 kills per set with 51 total blocks.
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Aaliyah Smith – Outside Hitter
Smith, a two-time Freshman of the Week honoree, averages 2.89 kills per set and has recorded 24 blocks, 175 total points and a .220 hitting percentage this season.
UP NEXT
Rice enters the American conference tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face No. 8 UTSA on Friday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at The Corral in Tampa, Florida. The match will stream on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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