Owls Set to Host Blue-Gray Weekend
4/9/2025 2:54:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General, Women's Tennis
Football, baseball and women's tennis this weekend
Houston-Rice Athletics will host an action-packed weekend of competitions as part of its annual Blue Gray Weekend, Friday through Sunday.
This weekend's lineup includes a three-game AAC baseball series with conference co-leader South Florida, the final workout of the Owls' 2025 spring football drills, and the 43rd-ranked women's tennis hosting Middle Tennessee for Senior Day, with special features for fans at every event.
Rice Baseball will kick off the weekend by hosting South Florida for a three-game series starting on Friday at 6:30 PM at Reckling Park. Friday's opener will be the annual Rice University Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day, honoring the dedicated professionals who serve the Rice community year-round.
A full day of activity opens on Saturday when Rice and Middle Tennessee meet at 11 a.m. at the George R. Brown Tennis Center as the Owls celebrate the careers of seniors Saara Orav and Allison Zipoli before the start of the match. Gates at GRBTC open at 10 a.m. for Family Fun Day with fans receiving a tennis-themed key chain while supplies last, as well as free snacks while younger fans can enjoy a bounce house set on the back courts.
The action shifts to Reckling Park at 2 p.m. for the middle game of the series between the Owls and Bulls. All Rice alumni, family and friends are invited to register for a pregame tailgate and crawfish boil before the game beginning at 11:30. For more information and to register for the event, please go to: RiceOwls.co/AlumniCrawfish. In addition, the first 150 fans to attend the game will receive a limited-edition Replica Rice Baseball Apron.
Saturday's activities wrap up with the conclusion of Dunelieve Family Head Football Coach Scott Abel's first set of spring practices with an Open Practice beginning at 6 p.m. The west concourse of Rice Stadium will feature food trucks and samples of food and alcohol from a number of Rice vendors, as well as a Kids Zone featuring inflatables, face painting, and a balloon artist. Owls' ticket representatives will be available to discuss group and individual ticketing options for the inaugural season under Coach Abel. Let us know you're coming to the Open Practice for a chance to win two season tickets at RiceOwls.com/FBOpenPractice
The weekend wraps up on Sunday with the final game of the series with USF, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. Rice Baseball is partnering with Special Olympics, and Autism Speaks for 'Be Brave with Special Olympics Day and Autism Speaks Day" to bring awareness to two wonderful causes striving to make a difference. Fans are encouraged to stop by the donation tables at the main entrance to support Special Olympics and Autism Speaks.
Sunday's game will also feature a kids' inflatable, a face painter, and a balloon artist outside the third base line at Reckling. It is also another Bark in the Park Sunday, with the first fans who are accompanied by their canines, receiving a Rice-branded dog toy while supplies last.
For more information on Rice Athletics, follow us on Twitter (@RiceAthletics), Facebook (@RiceAthletics), and Instagram (@Rice Athletics). Be sure to share your photos with family and friends on social media channels during Blue Gray Weekend with the hashtag #BGW25!
This weekend's lineup includes a three-game AAC baseball series with conference co-leader South Florida, the final workout of the Owls' 2025 spring football drills, and the 43rd-ranked women's tennis hosting Middle Tennessee for Senior Day, with special features for fans at every event.
Rice Baseball will kick off the weekend by hosting South Florida for a three-game series starting on Friday at 6:30 PM at Reckling Park. Friday's opener will be the annual Rice University Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day, honoring the dedicated professionals who serve the Rice community year-round.
A full day of activity opens on Saturday when Rice and Middle Tennessee meet at 11 a.m. at the George R. Brown Tennis Center as the Owls celebrate the careers of seniors Saara Orav and Allison Zipoli before the start of the match. Gates at GRBTC open at 10 a.m. for Family Fun Day with fans receiving a tennis-themed key chain while supplies last, as well as free snacks while younger fans can enjoy a bounce house set on the back courts.
The action shifts to Reckling Park at 2 p.m. for the middle game of the series between the Owls and Bulls. All Rice alumni, family and friends are invited to register for a pregame tailgate and crawfish boil before the game beginning at 11:30. For more information and to register for the event, please go to: RiceOwls.co/AlumniCrawfish. In addition, the first 150 fans to attend the game will receive a limited-edition Replica Rice Baseball Apron.
Saturday's activities wrap up with the conclusion of Dunelieve Family Head Football Coach Scott Abel's first set of spring practices with an Open Practice beginning at 6 p.m. The west concourse of Rice Stadium will feature food trucks and samples of food and alcohol from a number of Rice vendors, as well as a Kids Zone featuring inflatables, face painting, and a balloon artist. Owls' ticket representatives will be available to discuss group and individual ticketing options for the inaugural season under Coach Abel. Let us know you're coming to the Open Practice for a chance to win two season tickets at RiceOwls.com/FBOpenPractice
The weekend wraps up on Sunday with the final game of the series with USF, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. Rice Baseball is partnering with Special Olympics, and Autism Speaks for 'Be Brave with Special Olympics Day and Autism Speaks Day" to bring awareness to two wonderful causes striving to make a difference. Fans are encouraged to stop by the donation tables at the main entrance to support Special Olympics and Autism Speaks.
Sunday's game will also feature a kids' inflatable, a face painter, and a balloon artist outside the third base line at Reckling. It is also another Bark in the Park Sunday, with the first fans who are accompanied by their canines, receiving a Rice-branded dog toy while supplies last.
For more information on Rice Athletics, follow us on Twitter (@RiceAthletics), Facebook (@RiceAthletics), and Instagram (@Rice Athletics). Be sure to share your photos with family and friends on social media channels during Blue Gray Weekend with the hashtag #BGW25!
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02