Friday, September 12
Omaha, Neb.
4:30 PM
Rice University
vs
Northern Iowa
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Volleyball Readies for Bluejay Classic
9/11/2025 1:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — Rice closes its five-match road swing this weekend when it travels to Omaha, Neb., Sept. 12-14, to participate in the Bluejay Classic. The Owls will face Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Northern Iowa on Friday, No. 18 Creighton on Sunday, and No. 4 Louisville on Sunday. The Northern Iowa and Louisville matches will be streamed on YouTube, and the Creighton match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Match 6
What: Rice (2-3) vs. Northern Iowa (2-3)
When: Friday, September 12 at 4:30 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Northern Iowa leads, 4-0 (Rice 0-2 on Neutral Court)
Match 7
What: Rice (2-3) at No. 18 Creighton (3-3)
When: Saturday, September 13 at 4 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Rice leads, 2-1 (First Meeting in Omaha)
Match 8
What: Rice (2-3) vs. No. 4 Louisville (4-1)
When: Sunday, September 14 at 12 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Louisville leads, 4-0 (Rice 0-1 on Neutral Court)
Notes
• 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 (414) and winning percentage (.654).
Rice vs. Northern Iowa
• This is the fifth meeting between Rice and Northern Iowa in a series that dates back to 1985.
• The Owls are looking for their first victory over the Panthers, as UNI holds a 4-0 advantage.
• Last year, the Owls fell, 3-0, in the Cardinal Classic.
• In fact, Rice is trying to take their first set from Northern Iowa, having been swept in all four matches.
Rice vs. Creighton
• Rice and Creighton will meet for the third time in the last four years and the fourth time overall, with the Owls holding a 2-1 advantage.
• Rice won the first two meetings in 1995 and 2022, before falling, 3-0, last year in the Cardinal Classic.
• This is the third time Rice will face a ranked Creighton squad.
• They defeated the 17th-ranked Bluejays, 3-2, in 2022. Last year, CU was ranked ninth.
Rice vs. Louisville
• Rice and Louisville will meet for the fifth time overall and the first time since 2014.
• The Owls are looking for their first victory in the series that dates back to 1990.
• This is the second time Rice will face a ranked Louisville squad.
• They fell to the ninth-ranked Cardinals, 3-0, in the 2005 Irish Thanksgiving Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
Next Up
• Rice returns home next weekend, Sept. 18-20, when it hosts the Rice Invitational II. The Owls will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday (6 p.m.), Cornell on Friday (6:30 p.m.), and No. 15 TCU on Saturday (4 p.m.). All three matches will be streamed at ESPN+.
Match 6
What: Rice (2-3) vs. Northern Iowa (2-3)
When: Friday, September 12 at 4:30 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Northern Iowa leads, 4-0 (Rice 0-2 on Neutral Court)
Match 7
What: Rice (2-3) at No. 18 Creighton (3-3)
When: Saturday, September 13 at 4 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Rice leads, 2-1 (First Meeting in Omaha)
Match 8
What: Rice (2-3) vs. No. 4 Louisville (4-1)
When: Sunday, September 14 at 12 p.m. CT
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Stadium: Sokol Arena (2,500)
Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series Information: Louisville leads, 4-0 (Rice 0-1 on Neutral Court)
Notes
• 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 (414) and winning percentage (.654).
Rice vs. Northern Iowa
• This is the fifth meeting between Rice and Northern Iowa in a series that dates back to 1985.
• The Owls are looking for their first victory over the Panthers, as UNI holds a 4-0 advantage.
• Last year, the Owls fell, 3-0, in the Cardinal Classic.
• In fact, Rice is trying to take their first set from Northern Iowa, having been swept in all four matches.
Rice vs. Creighton
• Rice and Creighton will meet for the third time in the last four years and the fourth time overall, with the Owls holding a 2-1 advantage.
• Rice won the first two meetings in 1995 and 2022, before falling, 3-0, last year in the Cardinal Classic.
• This is the third time Rice will face a ranked Creighton squad.
• They defeated the 17th-ranked Bluejays, 3-2, in 2022. Last year, CU was ranked ninth.
Rice vs. Louisville
• Rice and Louisville will meet for the fifth time overall and the first time since 2014.
• The Owls are looking for their first victory in the series that dates back to 1990.
• This is the second time Rice will face a ranked Louisville squad.
• They fell to the ninth-ranked Cardinals, 3-0, in the 2005 Irish Thanksgiving Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
Next Up
• Rice returns home next weekend, Sept. 18-20, when it hosts the Rice Invitational II. The Owls will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday (6 p.m.), Cornell on Friday (6:30 p.m.), and No. 15 TCU on Saturday (4 p.m.). All three matches 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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