Sunday, September 7
Waco, Texas
2 PM
Rice University
2-3,0-0American
0
at
3
Baylor
5-1,0-0Big 12
1
2
3
F
Rice
17
15
23
0
Baylor
25
25
25
3
Rice Fights to End at No. 20 Baylor
9/7/2025 5:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Waco, Texas — The Rice Volleyball fought to the end, but could not make up an early deficit, as it fell to No. 20 Baylor, 3-0 (17-25, 15-25, 23-25), in the final match of the Baylor Classic, Sunday afternoon from the Ferrell Center.
The Owls (2-3) hit .149 while Baylor (5-1) hit .301. Senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 16 kills, hitting .234, while adding seven digs. Junior middle blocker Arissa Smith led the team hitting .364 on 5-of-11 attacks.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal had a match-high 22 assists and added eight digs. Senior defensive specialist Darby Harris had 11 digs, including the 1,000th of her career.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm just disappointed that we did not come out and serve and pass the way that I know we can to compete with a team like Baylor. We just got in a big hole early on, which made it difficult to get any momentum. We really didn't see it until the end of the third set, where we started playing more aggressive and free, but it was too late. I am confident that our team will respond the way that I know they should, and come out next practice with an opportunity to really lock in for the big weekend we have ahead of us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice dug a hole early as Baylor scored the first seven points of the match. Rice went on a 7-3 run to pull within 10-7. But four straight Bears points extended their lead to seven. After trading points, Rice scored five of seven points to get within 20-16. But Baylor scored five of the final six points to take the set, 25-17. Baylor hit .394, while Rice hit .114. Preston led the Owls with five kills, and Arissa Smith was two-of-three.
Second Set
The second set began as a back-and-forth affair. The teams split the first 14 points, with the match being tied at seven. However, BU scored six consecutive points. A kill by Stephanie Gutierrez helped the Owls score four of six points to pull within 15-11. The teams traded points. But Baylor closed on a 6-1 run to take the set. 25-15. Baylor hit .344, and Rice was held to .179. Preston had a set-high five kills, hitting .231.
Third Set
The third sets began with the teams trading points. Baylor took a 5-3 lead, but kills by Preston and Smith tied the set at six. With the set tied at 10, the Bears went on an 8-2 run, taking its largest lead of the set at 18-12. But Rice wouldn't go away. The answered with six of the next seven points, including a kill by Smith that brought the Owls within 19-18. BU scored five of the next seven points to force match point. Again, Rice fought back. Kellen Dorotik and Preston had kills as the Owls made it 24-23. But a kill from Manuela Bibinbe clinched the set and match, 25-23. Preston had a set-high six kills, Smith hit .500 in the set.
Up Next
Rice travels to Omaha, Neb. next weekend, Sept. 12-14, to participate in the Bluejay Classic. The Owls will face Northern Iowa on Friday, No. 13 Creighton on Sunday, and No. 3 Louisville on Sunday. The Northern Iowa and Louisville matches will be streamed on YouTube, and the Creighton match will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Owls (2-3) hit .149 while Baylor (5-1) hit .301. Senior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all players with 16 kills, hitting .234, while adding seven digs. Junior middle blocker Arissa Smith led the team hitting .364 on 5-of-11 attacks.
Sophomore setter Savannah Skopal had a match-high 22 assists and added eight digs. Senior defensive specialist Darby Harris had 11 digs, including the 1,000th of her career.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"I'm just disappointed that we did not come out and serve and pass the way that I know we can to compete with a team like Baylor. We just got in a big hole early on, which made it difficult to get any momentum. We really didn't see it until the end of the third set, where we started playing more aggressive and free, but it was too late. I am confident that our team will respond the way that I know they should, and come out next practice with an opportunity to really lock in for the big weekend we have ahead of us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice dug a hole early as Baylor scored the first seven points of the match. Rice went on a 7-3 run to pull within 10-7. But four straight Bears points extended their lead to seven. After trading points, Rice scored five of seven points to get within 20-16. But Baylor scored five of the final six points to take the set, 25-17. Baylor hit .394, while Rice hit .114. Preston led the Owls with five kills, and Arissa Smith was two-of-three.
Second Set
The second set began as a back-and-forth affair. The teams split the first 14 points, with the match being tied at seven. However, BU scored six consecutive points. A kill by Stephanie Gutierrez helped the Owls score four of six points to pull within 15-11. The teams traded points. But Baylor closed on a 6-1 run to take the set. 25-15. Baylor hit .344, and Rice was held to .179. Preston had a set-high five kills, hitting .231.
Third Set
The third sets began with the teams trading points. Baylor took a 5-3 lead, but kills by Preston and Smith tied the set at six. With the set tied at 10, the Bears went on an 8-2 run, taking its largest lead of the set at 18-12. But Rice wouldn't go away. The answered with six of the next seven points, including a kill by Smith that brought the Owls within 19-18. BU scored five of the next seven points to force match point. Again, Rice fought back. Kellen Dorotik and Preston had kills as the Owls made it 24-23. But a kill from Manuela Bibinbe clinched the set and match, 25-23. Preston had a set-high six kills, Smith hit .500 in the set.
Up Next
Rice travels to Omaha, Neb. next weekend, Sept. 12-14, to participate in the Bluejay Classic. The Owls will face Northern Iowa on Friday, No. 13 Creighton on Sunday, and No. 3 Louisville on Sunday. The Northern Iowa and Louisville matches will be streamed on YouTube, and the Creighton match will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
Baylor
Kills
34
46
Errors
17
12
Attempts
114
113
Hitting %
.149
.301
Points
40.0
60.0
Assists
31
42
Aces
3
7
Blocks
3
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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