Rice University Athletics
Friday, September 25
Houston, Texas
6 PM
Rice University
6-7,0-1American
1
vs
3
ECU
9-5,2-0American
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina | 25 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Rice | 15 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 1 |
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls drop Conference Home Opener against ECU
9/25/2026 10:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — Rice volleyball opened American Conference play with a 3-1 loss to East Carolina on Friday at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Owls (6-7, 0-1) dropped the first set 25-15 before responding with a 25-18 win in the second. ECU took the third set 25-23 and closed out the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth. Rice hit .157 for the match, while East Carolina posted a .242 hitting percentage.
Sydnee Peterson led the Owls with 18 kills and recorded her sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 13 digs. Kaia Mateo paced the offense with 37 assists, while Declan Eastman added a career-high 10 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"We got beat in every aspect of the game today. ECU beat us in every category and forced us to make a lot of adjustments. We need to learn from this and move on quickly and find some more consistency to succeed in this league."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice scored the first point of the match on a kill from Stephanie Gutierrez, but East Carolina quickly took control with a pair of 3-0 runs to build an 8-4 lead. The Owls attempted to chip away at the deficit, but a 5-0 run from the Pirates extended their advantage. ECU took the opening set 25-15.
Second Set
Rice opened the second set with a 3-0 run to take a 3-2 lead before the teams traded points. The Owls held an 11-8 advantage before ECU tied the set at 11 with a 3-0 run. Rice responded with a 6-1 run to take an 18-14 lead, capped by a kill from Peterson. The Pirates pulled within one, but the Owls closed the set on a 7-1 run to win 25-18 and even the match at 1-1.
Third Set
ECU took control early in the third set, building a 9-3 lead and forcing Rice to call its first timeout. The teams traded points before Rice used a pair of 3-0 runs to pull within 19-17. The Owls stayed within striking distance late, scoring back-to-back points while the Pirates were at set point, but ECU held on for a 25-23 win.
Fourth Set
The final set featured 11 tied scores. Rice held a 15-13 lead at the media timeout and later led 19-16 before ECU responded with a 4-0 run to take a 20-19 advantage. The Owls tied the set at 21 on a kill from Maggie Croft and again at 22, but the Pirates scored the final three points to close out the match with a 25-22 win.
UP NEXT
The Owls will close out the weekend against UAB on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Tudor Fieldhouse. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Owls (6-7, 0-1) dropped the first set 25-15 before responding with a 25-18 win in the second. ECU took the third set 25-23 and closed out the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth. Rice hit .157 for the match, while East Carolina posted a .242 hitting percentage.
Sydnee Peterson led the Owls with 18 kills and recorded her sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 13 digs. Kaia Mateo paced the offense with 37 assists, while Declan Eastman added a career-high 10 digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
"We got beat in every aspect of the game today. ECU beat us in every category and forced us to make a lot of adjustments. We need to learn from this and move on quickly and find some more consistency to succeed in this league."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Rice scored the first point of the match on a kill from Stephanie Gutierrez, but East Carolina quickly took control with a pair of 3-0 runs to build an 8-4 lead. The Owls attempted to chip away at the deficit, but a 5-0 run from the Pirates extended their advantage. ECU took the opening set 25-15.
Second Set
Rice opened the second set with a 3-0 run to take a 3-2 lead before the teams traded points. The Owls held an 11-8 advantage before ECU tied the set at 11 with a 3-0 run. Rice responded with a 6-1 run to take an 18-14 lead, capped by a kill from Peterson. The Pirates pulled within one, but the Owls closed the set on a 7-1 run to win 25-18 and even the match at 1-1.
Third Set
ECU took control early in the third set, building a 9-3 lead and forcing Rice to call its first timeout. The teams traded points before Rice used a pair of 3-0 runs to pull within 19-17. The Owls stayed within striking distance late, scoring back-to-back points while the Pirates were at set point, but ECU held on for a 25-23 win.
Fourth Set
The final set featured 11 tied scores. Rice held a 15-13 lead at the media timeout and later led 19-16 before ECU responded with a 4-0 run to take a 20-19 advantage. The Owls tied the set at 21 on a kill from Maggie Croft and again at 22, but the Pirates scored the final three points to close out the match with a 25-22 win.
UP NEXT
The Owls will close out the weekend against UAB on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Tudor Fieldhouse. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
ECU
Rice
Kills
60
49
Errors
21
22
Attempts
161
172
Hitting %
.242
.157
Points
73.0
60.0
Assists
50
46
Aces
4
4
Blocks
9
7
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Saturday, December 04
Thursday, December 02