Thursday, September 18
Houston, Texas
6 PM
Rice University
3-6,0-0American
3
vs
0
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
4-6,0-0Southland
1
2
3
F
A&M-Corpus Christi
21
21
17
0
Rice
25
25
25
3
Rice sweeps TAMU-Corpus Christi to open Rice Invitatinal II
9/18/2025 9:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — The Rice Volleyball team made quick work of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, opening the Rice Invitational II with a 3-0 win on Thursday at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (3-6) hit .267 while holding the Islanders (4-6) to a .124 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana hit .588, going 11-for-17 with a season-high six blocks.
Junior Kaia Mateo led the team with a season-high 26 assists, while senior Taylor Preston added 12 kills.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm really happy with the sweep, I think we could have played a little cleaner. It's great to be home and was proud of how the team put it together in set three after a rough start to set three. It could have gone in another direction, but they locked in and were able to end up with a sweep. I think we have to be more consistent and play our game. We are just trying to be a little more disciplined more consistently and the best team we can be."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice took an early 5-2 lead. But an 8-2 run gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the advantage. After the Islanders extended their lead to 14-11, but the Owls retook the lead with a 9-3 run. TAMUCC cut the deficit to two, but Preston closed it out with a kill as Rice took the opening set, 25-21. Ogunlana recorded four blocks, and the Owls hit .158 in the first set. Rice took the set, 25-21.
Second Set
The second set opened with a 3-0 run by the Owls, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Preston. She went on to record six kills in the set, as Rice hit .302. The Islanders kept it close for much of the set, but the Owls pulled away late, leading by as many as eight points. Rice claimed the second set, 25-21.
Third Set
The Islanders came out strong with a 6-1 run before the Owls responded to tie it at 7-7, capped by a kill from Sydnee Peterson. Rice cleaned things up in the third, hitting .343. The Owls dominated the rest of the set and went on a run of their own to win it, 25-17.
UP NEXT
The Owls will face Cornell for day two of the Rice Invitational II. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Owls (3-6) hit .267 while holding the Islanders (4-6) to a .124 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana hit .588, going 11-for-17 with a season-high six blocks.
Junior Kaia Mateo led the team with a season-high 26 assists, while senior Taylor Preston added 12 kills.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm really happy with the sweep, I think we could have played a little cleaner. It's great to be home and was proud of how the team put it together in set three after a rough start to set three. It could have gone in another direction, but they locked in and were able to end up with a sweep. I think we have to be more consistent and play our game. We are just trying to be a little more disciplined more consistently and the best team we can be."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice took an early 5-2 lead. But an 8-2 run gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the advantage. After the Islanders extended their lead to 14-11, but the Owls retook the lead with a 9-3 run. TAMUCC cut the deficit to two, but Preston closed it out with a kill as Rice took the opening set, 25-21. Ogunlana recorded four blocks, and the Owls hit .158 in the first set. Rice took the set, 25-21.
Second Set
The second set opened with a 3-0 run by the Owls, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Preston. She went on to record six kills in the set, as Rice hit .302. The Islanders kept it close for much of the set, but the Owls pulled away late, leading by as many as eight points. Rice claimed the second set, 25-21.
Third Set
The Islanders came out strong with a 6-1 run before the Owls responded to tie it at 7-7, capped by a kill from Sydnee Peterson. Rice cleaned things up in the third, hitting .343. The Owls dominated the rest of the set and went on a run of their own to win it, 25-17.
UP NEXT
The Owls will face Cornell for day two of the Rice Invitational II. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
TA&MCC
Rice
Kills
29
45
Errors
16
14
Attempts
105
116
Hitting %
.124
.267
Points
37.0
61.0
Assists
26
36
Aces
4
8
Blocks
4
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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