Women's Volleyball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- zhengx@rice.edu
- Phone:
- 348-4795
Zheng Xiang, who was promoted to Associate Head Coach on May 20, 2019, begins his ninth season (fall 2022) with the Rice volleyball program. During his tenure, the Owls have achieved a 172-64 record (.728 winning percentage), appeared in four NCAA Tournaments (advancing to Round of 32 twice), won three C-USA regular season titles and advanced to six C-USA title matches while winning 20 or more matches in seven seasons.
In the fall of 2021, the Owls earned the program's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and went 20-7 overall, reaching the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons by sweeping San Diego in the opening round.
It marked the Owls fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which puts them in elite company. Rice joined Texas and Baylor as the only programs in the state of Texas to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons and are one of just 21 programs across NCAA Division I to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons. It was the Owls third straight NCAA Tournament appearance via an at-large bid.
The 2021 fall season also saw the Owls reach the C-USA Championship match for a fourth straight season and the seventh time in program history after winning the West Division crown for a second straight season with a 12-0 mark.
In the spring of 2021 the Owls went 16-5 overall, including a 12-0 mark in C-USA play. It marked the first time Rice went undefeated throughout a conference season as the Owls captured the West Division title. The Owls closed the regular season by defeating the No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns in five sets in Austin, marking Rice's second win over the Longhorns in two seasons. The Owls earned their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, making it for the second straight year as an at-large.
The Owls had a magical 2019 campaign, recording the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and the second-most wins (27) in school history. Rice finished the season ranked in the AVCA Top-25 (24th) for first time in program history and climbed as high as No. 17 during the season. The Owls also finished the season with a No. 19 rankings in the NCAA RPI, the highest finish in school history. The Owls had two players (Nicole Lennon and Anota Adekunle) earn AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors. Rice also had a school record-tying four players named to AVCA Southwest All-Region Team and three Owls named to C-USA All-Academic Team.
In addition, the Owls placed a league-high six players on C-USA All-Conference teams. Perhaps the highlight of the season was the team's victory over No. 3 Texas for the first time in program history. Along the way Rice set a school record with 20 sweeps.
In 2018, Xiang helped guide the Owls to one of the best seasons in program history. The Owls posted their fifth straight season of 20 or more wins with a 24-7 record and a sweep of the Conference USA regular season and tournaments crowns. The Owls achieved their best C-USA record (12-2) and recorded the longest winning streak (15 straight) in program history. Rice twice appeared in the AVCA Coaches Poll and placed five players on the 2018 All-C-USA teams, including three first-team members and the C-USA Player of the Year in Nicole Lennon. The Owls ranked top 10 in the nation in kills per set (7th-14.64), digs per set (8th-18.16), and assists per set (8th-13.74).
In 2017, the Owls advanced to the postseason (NIVC) for the first time since 2009.
In his first year with the Owls, Xiang helped oversee a Rice squad that advanced to the C-USA Championship game and won 23 games, the fifth-most in school history.
He was previously a volunteer assistant at Texas A&M (2013) after spending five years (2008-12) on the UTSA Roadrunners staff as an assistant coach.
While at Texas A&M the Aggies went 19-12 in 2013 and 10-8 in the SEC, before falling to No. 1 seed Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Xiang coached three Aggies to SEC honors.
Xiang was hired by UTSA in August 2008 as an interim assistant coach before being promoted to a full-time assistant four months later.
Xiang helped guide the Roadrunners to a 21-9 record in his final season at UTSA, the team's first season in the WAC. That season McKenzie Adams was named the WAC Player of the Year. Adams was one of five players to earn postseason accolades.Freshman Annie Kunes was tabbed WAC Libero of the Year and was joined on the second team by senior Whitney Walls and junior Brandy Huskey, while Kunes and Kylie Schott were selected to the All-Freshman Team.
Through Xiang's first four years at UTSA he oversaw 17 players earn All-Southland Conference accolades, including 11 first-teamers and two-time Libero of the Year Kelsey Jewasko (2008 & '10), 2011 Newcomer of the Year McKenzie Adams, 2011 Setter of the Year Kelsey Schwirtlich and 2010 Tournament Most Valuable Player Kendra Rowland.
In 2011 the Roadrunners won 22 matches for a second-straight season and advanced to the Southland Tournament Championship Match for the second consecutive season. During the campaign, UTSA swept a program-record 12 consecutive opponents. The Roadrunners also boasted a league-high four first-team All-Southland selections, while Jewasko earned a pair of Academic All-America honors and became the program's all-time leader in digs.
In 2010, UTSA posted 22 victories, won the Southland Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. Five players garnered all-conference laurels, including Jewasko, Rowland and Schwirtlich, who all were first-team honorees.
Playing arguably the most difficult schedule in program history, UTSA won a dozen matches in 2009 and three players -- Whitney Walls (second team), Jewasko (honorable mention) and Rowland (honorable mention) -- earned All-Southland accolades.
Xiang helped lead the Roadrunners to a 19-12 overall record and 11-5 mark in league play in his first season. Stefanie Robbins and Jewasko were named Southland Newcomer and Libero of the Year, respectively. Meanwhile, Rowland and Jewasko were named to the conference's first team and Amber Brooks joined Robbins as an honorable mention selection.
The Chicago native came to UTSA from St. Edward's University in Austin, where he spent the previous two seasons as an assistant. He mentored the Hilltoppers' outside hitters and liberos and also was the program's recruiting, travel and academic coordinator.
Xiang earned his bachelor's degree in business from Indiana in 2000 and a MBA in marketing from Texas' McCombs School of Business in 2006.
He has six years of playing experience at the outside hitter and libero positions. Xiang was a member of Indiana's club team from 1997-2000 and was the squad's captain his final season. He also played for two years at Texas, where he earned first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors in 2006.
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