Friday, August 29
Houston, Texas
6 PM
Rice University
vs
Texas A&M
Volleyball Opens 2025 Season with Rice Invitational I; Hosts No. 9 Texas A&M, Central Arkansas
8/28/2025 1:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — Rice opens the 2025 season hosting the Rice Invitational I, Aug. 29-31. Rice hosts No. 9 Texas A&M on Friday at 6 p.m., and Central Arkansas on Sunday at 1 p.m. Texas A&M will face UCA on Saturday at 2 p.m. Both Rice matches will be streamed by ESPN+.
Match 1
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (1-0)
When: Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Texas A&M leads, 36-4 (15-3 at Rice)
Match 2
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. Central Arkansas (0-0)
When: Sunday, August 31 at 1 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Rice leads, 1-0 (1-0 at Rice)
Notes
• Rice is receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll.
• Rice is 24-21 all-time in season opening matches, but have won two straight and six of its last seven.
• The Owls were picked first in the American Conference Preseason Poll, earning nine of 13 first-place votes.
• Rice had a league-high four selections on the American Preseason All-Conference Team: middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana, outside hitter Taylor Preston, setter Savannah Skopal, and outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa.
• Since 2019, the Owls have earned 15 wins over Power FIve teams, with five coming against ranked opponents.
• Head Coach Genny Volpe is in her 22nd season with the Owls and is the school's all-time
leader in total wins (413) and winning percentage (.656).
Rice vs. Texas A&M
• Rice and Texas A&M will meet for the 41st time overall and the first time since the 2019 NCAA Second Round.
• Rice is looking for just its fifth victory over the Aggies as they are 4-36 all-time.
• Rice is looking for its first victory over the Longhorns since 1996.
• Rice has lost its last 14 meetings dating back to 1991. The Owls last defeated Texas A&M on Oct. 27, 1990, a 3-1 victory at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• This is just the fourth meeting as non-conference opponents, as they were members of Southwest Conference until 1995.
• It is also the eighth time that Rice will face a ranked Texas A&M team, with the Owls looking for their first victory.
Rice vs. Central Arkansas
• This will be just the second meeting between Rice and Central Arkansas.
• Rice won the only other meeting between the teams, a 3-1 victory in the 2009 Rice Mizuno Invitational.
Next Up
• Rice closes out its season-opening homestand next Wednesday, Sept. 3, when it hosts fifth-ranked Texas. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Match 1
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (1-0)
When: Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Texas A&M leads, 36-4 (15-3 at Rice)
Match 2
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. Central Arkansas (0-0)
When: Sunday, August 31 at 1 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Rice leads, 1-0 (1-0 at Rice)
Notes
• Rice is receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll.
• Rice is 24-21 all-time in season opening matches, but have won two straight and six of its last seven.
• The Owls were picked first in the American Conference Preseason Poll, earning nine of 13 first-place votes.
• Rice had a league-high four selections on the American Preseason All-Conference Team: middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana, outside hitter Taylor Preston, setter Savannah Skopal, and outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa.
• Since 2019, the Owls have earned 15 wins over Power FIve teams, with five coming against ranked opponents.
• Head Coach Genny Volpe is in her 22nd season with the Owls and is the school's all-time
leader in total wins (413) and winning percentage (.656).
Rice vs. Texas A&M
• Rice and Texas A&M will meet for the 41st time overall and the first time since the 2019 NCAA Second Round.
• Rice is looking for just its fifth victory over the Aggies as they are 4-36 all-time.
• Rice is looking for its first victory over the Longhorns since 1996.
• Rice has lost its last 14 meetings dating back to 1991. The Owls last defeated Texas A&M on Oct. 27, 1990, a 3-1 victory at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• This is just the fourth meeting as non-conference opponents, as they were members of Southwest Conference until 1995.
• It is also the eighth time that Rice will face a ranked Texas A&M team, with the Owls looking for their first victory.
Rice vs. Central Arkansas
• This will be just the second meeting between Rice and Central Arkansas.
• Rice won the only other meeting between the teams, a 3-1 victory in the 2009 Rice Mizuno Invitational.
Next Up
• Rice closes out its season-opening homestand next Wednesday, Sept. 3, when it hosts fifth-ranked Texas. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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