Rice Volleyball Opens 2026 Season at Jaguar Classic

HOUSTON — Rice opens the 2026 season this weekend at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, Alabama, at Jaguar Gym. The tournament will feature Mississippi State, Georgia State and host South Alabama.

Match 1
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. South Alabama (0-0)
When: Friday, August 28 at 6 p.m. CT
Where: Mobile, Ala.
Stadium: Jaguar Gym
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series Information: Rice leads series 2-0

Match 2
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. Georgia State (0-0)
When: Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. CT
Where: Mobile, Ala.
Stadium: Jaguar Gym
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series Information: First meeting

Match 3
What: RV Rice (0-0) vs. Mississippi State (0-0)
When: Sunday, August 30 at 11 a.m. CT
Where: Mobile, Ala.
Stadium: Jaguar Gym
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series Information: Rice leads series 4-0

Notes
• Rice is receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll.
• The Owls were unanimously picked first in the American Conference Preseason Poll, earning the max of 12 first-place votes.
• Rice had a league-high three selections on the American Preseason All-Conference Team: setter Kaia Mateo, middle blocker Arissa Smith and outside hitter Aaliyah Smith.
• The Owls posted a 17-game winning streak last season, going 15-1 in conference play and securing their first American Conference championship.
• Head Coach Genny Volpe is in her 22nd season with the Owls and is the school's all-time
leader in total wins (434) and winning percentage (.657).
• Rice is 24-21 all-time in season opening matches.

Rice vs. South Alabama
• The Owls are 2-0 against the Jaguars.
• The first meeting in 1982 ended in a 2-0 win for the Owls, while the previous meeting at Tudor in 2024 ended in a 3-0 win.

Rice vs. Georgia State
• This will be the first meeting between the Owls and Panthers

Rice vs. Mississippi State
• This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Rice and Mississippi State. Rice leads the series 4-0, with the first meeting ending in a 3-0 victory in 1984.
• The previous meeting was in Dallas in 2017, ending in a 3-1 win for the Owls.
• Senior middle blocker Arissa Smith transferred to Rice from Mississippi State last season. She competed for the Bulldogs during her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Next Up
• Rice will return home for the next two weeks, first hosting Tarleton before hosting the Rice Invitational I and II, featuring some of the top programs in the nation.

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