Volleyball Set to Host Rice Invitational II
9/17/2025 1:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — Rice closes its non-conference slate this weekend, Sept. 18-20, when it begins a five-match homestand hosting 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. 9 TCU on Saturday (4 p.m.). All three matches will be streamed at ESPN+.
Match 9
What: Rice (2-6) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4-5)
When: Thursday, September 18 at 6 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Rice leads, 5-2 (Rice 5-0 at Home)
Match 10
What: Rice (2-6) vs. Cornell (4-3)
When: Friday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: First Meeting
Match 11
What: Rice (2-6) vs. No. 9 TCU (7-1)
When: Saturday, September 20 at 4 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Series Information: Rice leads, 9-7 (Rice 7-1 at Home)
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.
• When Rice hosts No. 9 TCU, it will be its sixth matchup against a ranked opponent, its most since facing seven in 1992. It will also be its fourth Top 10 opponent, the most in school history.
• 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 (415) and winning percentage (.650).
Rice vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
• This is the eighth meeting between Rice and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a series that dates back to 2007.
• Rice holds a 5-2 advantage.
• The Owls are looking for their second straight victory, having earned a sweep in 2022.
• Rice won the first three meetings, but the teams have split the last four matches.
Rice vs. Cornell
• This is the first-ever meeting between Rice and Cornell.
Rice vs. TCU
• Rice and TCU will meet for the second straight season and the 17th time overall.
• The Owls hold a 9-7 advantage all-time, but the Horned Frogs have won three of the last four meetings.
• This will be the seventh meeting as non-conference opponents.
• The teams met from 1996-2000 as members of the Western Athletic Conference.
• The teams have split the non-conference meetings at three apiece.
• When played at Rice, the Owls are 7-1, and have won the last four.
• This is just the second meeting against a ranked TCU squad.
• Last year the Owls fell to the 23rd-ranked Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, 3-1.
Next Up
• Rice closes its homestand next weekend when it begins conference play. The Owls host Temple on Friday, Sept. 26 (6 p.m.) and Tulsa on Sunday, Sept. 28 (2 p.m.). Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
