Sunday, August 31
Houston, Texas
1 PM
Rice University
1-1,0-0American
3
vs
0
Central Arkansas
0-2,0-0ASUN
1
2
3
F
Central Ark.
25
20
14
0
Rice
27
25
25
3
Owls Close Rice Invitational I with Sweep of Central Arkansas
8/31/2025 4:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — The Rice Volleyball team stepped up its game from the first set, sweeping Central Arkansas (27-25, 25-20, 15-14), to close out the Rice Invitational I, Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls hit .270, while holding Central Arkansas to just .150. Senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 15 kills, hitting .282, while adding eight digs. Junior Arissa Smith did damage on both sides of the net, hitting .643 on 9-of-14 attempts, and added four blocks.
Senior Taylor Johnson had a career-high six kills, hitting .385, and senior Lademi Ogunlana had five kills on nine attempts to hit .556.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal led the Owls with 20 assists and junior setter Kaia Mateo had 13. Senior defensive specialists Darby Harris and Gaby Mansfield had 14 and 12 digs, respectively.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm just really proud of how the team responded. They had a mission, and they just wanted to play good volleyball, and be the aggressor. I think they showed that in a lot of ways today. It wasn't always the cleanest match, but from an offensive perspective, it was a big shift for us. So I'm really proud of how we did that today."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice jumped out to an early 6-3 lead. After two straight UCA points, the Owls scored six of the next seven points. But Central Arkansas picked up its play, going on an 11-2 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Sugar Bears kept it going, extending its lead to 24-18. But with the Owls facing set point, they rattled off six straight points to tie the set at 24. UCA retook the lead, but Preston fired off two straight kills, and Johnson finished the set off with a kill. Preston had six kills, and Smith hit .571. Rice hit .293, while Central Arkansas hit .238.
Second Set
Rice again jumped out to an early lead, this time taking a 7-3 advantage. A 5-1 UCA run tied the set at eight, but the Owls answered, scoring five of the next seven points. The Sugar Bears twice tied the set. With it tied at 16, Rice got hot, going on an 8-1 run to force set point at 24-17. Central Arkansas won three straight to extend the set, but Sydnee Peterson gave the Owls a 2-0 lead with her team-high fourth kill of the set. Ogunlana had three kills and hit .429.
Third Set
Rice kept its foot on the pedal in the third set, running out to a 13-4 advantage. After trading points, a kill from Johnson and an ace from Mari Furoyama gave the Owls a double-digit lead at 16-6. The Sugar Bears cut their deficit to six at 20-14, but Rice scored five straight points, including an ace from Mateo that closed out the match. Rice hit .355 in the set, holding UCA to .207. Johnson had four kills and hit .667.
Up Next
The Owls close season opening homestand this Wednesday, Sept. 3, when it hosts No. 5 Texas. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Owls hit .270, while holding Central Arkansas to just .150. Senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 15 kills, hitting .282, while adding eight digs. Junior Arissa Smith did damage on both sides of the net, hitting .643 on 9-of-14 attempts, and added four blocks.
Senior Taylor Johnson had a career-high six kills, hitting .385, and senior Lademi Ogunlana had five kills on nine attempts to hit .556.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal led the Owls with 20 assists and junior setter Kaia Mateo had 13. Senior defensive specialists Darby Harris and Gaby Mansfield had 14 and 12 digs, respectively.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm just really proud of how the team responded. They had a mission, and they just wanted to play good volleyball, and be the aggressor. I think they showed that in a lot of ways today. It wasn't always the cleanest match, but from an offensive perspective, it was a big shift for us. So I'm really proud of how we did that today."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice jumped out to an early 6-3 lead. After two straight UCA points, the Owls scored six of the next seven points. But Central Arkansas picked up its play, going on an 11-2 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Sugar Bears kept it going, extending its lead to 24-18. But with the Owls facing set point, they rattled off six straight points to tie the set at 24. UCA retook the lead, but Preston fired off two straight kills, and Johnson finished the set off with a kill. Preston had six kills, and Smith hit .571. Rice hit .293, while Central Arkansas hit .238.
Second Set
Rice again jumped out to an early lead, this time taking a 7-3 advantage. A 5-1 UCA run tied the set at eight, but the Owls answered, scoring five of the next seven points. The Sugar Bears twice tied the set. With it tied at 16, Rice got hot, going on an 8-1 run to force set point at 24-17. Central Arkansas won three straight to extend the set, but Sydnee Peterson gave the Owls a 2-0 lead with her team-high fourth kill of the set. Ogunlana had three kills and hit .429.
Third Set
Rice kept its foot on the pedal in the third set, running out to a 13-4 advantage. After trading points, a kill from Johnson and an ace from Mari Furoyama gave the Owls a double-digit lead at 16-6. The Sugar Bears cut their deficit to six at 20-14, but Rice scored five straight points, including an ace from Mateo that closed out the match. Rice hit .355 in the set, holding UCA to .207. Johnson had four kills and hit .667.
Up Next
The Owls close season opening homestand this Wednesday, Sept. 3, when it hosts No. 5 Texas. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
UCA
Rice
Kills
36
46
Errors
19
14
Attempts
113
118
Hitting %
.150
.271
Points
44.0
60.0
Assists
29
42
Aces
2
6
Blocks
6
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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