Friday, August 29
Houston, Texas
6 PM
Rice University
0-1,0-0American
0
vs
3
Texas A&M
2-0,0-0SEC
1
2
3
F
Texas A&M
25
25
25
3
Rice
13
16
18
0
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Falls to No. 9 Texas A&M in Season Opener
8/29/2025 9:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — The Rice Volleyball team couldn't get going offensively, falling in its season opener to No. 9 Texas A&M in straight sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-18), Friday night at Tudor Fieldhouse in the Rice Invitational I.
The Owls were held to just -.010 hitting while Texas A&M hit .2450. Senior middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana led the Owls with five kills, hitting .273, and junior outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa added five.
Junior outside hitter Arissa Smith hit .300 on 4-of-10 attempts, and added three blocks.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal led the Owls with 14 assists and senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 11 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"That was a tough game for sure. Texas A&M is sharp. They definitely came in and kind of over-powered us a little bit at first. I was disappointed how it took us so long to get going. But, credit to Texas A&M. They've got a complete team. They have great servers. They have solid reception. It's just hard to get them out of their system. When a team is in system pretty much the entire game, it makes it really difficult to defend. We got off to a really slow start. Although it progressed a little bit throughout the match, we just have to learn from that. That's just a really solid team that came in and took it to us. We'll learn from it and get better."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Aggies came out strong scoring the first five points of the set. After going back-and forth, Texas A&M scored four-of-five points. Preston and Sydnee Peterson recorded kills to bring the Owls within 13-8. But the Aggies went on an 8-2 run to take a 21-10 lead before closing out the set, 25-13. Texas A&M hit .500, while Rice was held to .000.
Second Set
The second set began with both teams going back-and-forth. With the set tied at four, Texas A&M scored nine of the next 11 points. Kills by Ogunlana and Smith helped bring the Owls within 15-10. However, the Aggies went on a 7-3 run before taking the set, 25-16. Ogunlana hit .600 on three-of-five attempts. Rice was held to .000 hitting, while Texas A&M hit .276.
Third Set
Texas A&M came out strong, jumping out to a 13-4 lead. Kills by Tchouangwa and Taylor Johnson helped the Owls score four of five points. After two straight Aggie points, the Owls scored five straight to pull within 16-13. But the Aggies answered with five straight points of their own. Rice got no closer than six points the rest of the way, as Texas A&M closed out the match, 25-18. Rice held the Aggies to just .034 hitting, but the Owls hit -.028.
UP NEXT
The Owls close out the Rice Invitational I this Sunday, Aug. 31, when it hosts Central Arkansas. First serve is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Owls were held to just -.010 hitting while Texas A&M hit .2450. Senior middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana led the Owls with five kills, hitting .273, and junior outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa added five.
Junior outside hitter Arissa Smith hit .300 on 4-of-10 attempts, and added three blocks.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal led the Owls with 14 assists and senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 11 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"That was a tough game for sure. Texas A&M is sharp. They definitely came in and kind of over-powered us a little bit at first. I was disappointed how it took us so long to get going. But, credit to Texas A&M. They've got a complete team. They have great servers. They have solid reception. It's just hard to get them out of their system. When a team is in system pretty much the entire game, it makes it really difficult to defend. We got off to a really slow start. Although it progressed a little bit throughout the match, we just have to learn from that. That's just a really solid team that came in and took it to us. We'll learn from it and get better."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Aggies came out strong scoring the first five points of the set. After going back-and forth, Texas A&M scored four-of-five points. Preston and Sydnee Peterson recorded kills to bring the Owls within 13-8. But the Aggies went on an 8-2 run to take a 21-10 lead before closing out the set, 25-13. Texas A&M hit .500, while Rice was held to .000.
Second Set
The second set began with both teams going back-and-forth. With the set tied at four, Texas A&M scored nine of the next 11 points. Kills by Ogunlana and Smith helped bring the Owls within 15-10. However, the Aggies went on a 7-3 run before taking the set, 25-16. Ogunlana hit .600 on three-of-five attempts. Rice was held to .000 hitting, while Texas A&M hit .276.
Third Set
Texas A&M came out strong, jumping out to a 13-4 lead. Kills by Tchouangwa and Taylor Johnson helped the Owls score four of five points. After two straight Aggie points, the Owls scored five straight to pull within 16-13. But the Aggies answered with five straight points of their own. Rice got no closer than six points the rest of the way, as Texas A&M closed out the match, 25-18. Rice held the Aggies to just .034 hitting, but the Owls hit -.028.
UP NEXT
The Owls close out the Rice Invitational I this Sunday, Aug. 31, when it hosts Central Arkansas. First serve is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
AM
Rice
Kills
32
24
Errors
11
25
Attempts
80
102
Hitting %
.263
-.010
Points
48.0
28.0
Assists
30
20
Aces
6
0
Blocks
10
4
Game Leaders
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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