2025 Women's Volleyball Roster
Roster
Mateo, Kaia

Jersey Number 3
Kaia Mateo
- Position:
- Setter
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Junior
- High School:
- Avenues: The World School NYC
- Hometown:
- New York, New York
Bio
2024 (Sophomore): Played in 49 sets across 22 matches in her sophomore season, her first at Rice ... Finished the season with 152 assists, the second-most on the team ... Helped lead Rice to 12.99 assists per set, just 0.04 assists short of the conference lead ... Posted a season-high 24 assists against Tulsa on Oct. 4, just four shy of matching her career high of 28 ... Posted a career-high two blocks against Temple on Oct. 27.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Spent her freshman year at Iowa, where she appeared in 31 matches and 100 total sets... averaged 4.28 assists per set and tallied 428 total assists, including a career-high 28 assists against Kent State... added 188 digs and 35 blocks, while contributing 39 kills and 12 service aces on the offensive end... recorded two double-doubles on the season against Rutgers (26 assists, 12 digs) and Northwestern (13 assists, 10 digs).
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a varsity starter all four seasons at Avenues: The World School in New York City, also twice serving as team captain... named a Press Volleyball Top Athlete and an AVCA Phenom in 2021... won the 2022 Capitol Hill 17 Open Best Setter Award and was a member of the UA Next All-America Camp... named the World School NYC Athlete of the Year, Offensive Athlete of the Year and Most Versatile Player as a junior... earned the Aviator Award, Core Value Recognition and Tri-Season Athlete Award (volleyball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field)... holds school track and field records in the indoor 55 meters, 200 meters and 300 meters as well as the outdoor 100 meters and long jump.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Ronnie and Kelly Mateo... has two brothers and two sisters... mother ran track at UC Irvine and father played football at Cornell (1992-96), graduating as the team's third all-time receiving leader... during high school, was also a member of the Food and Hunger Advocacy Club and the Zero Waste Club, while volunteering at St. Clements Food Bank, Holy Apostles and City Meals on Wheels... authored three bilingual children's books about ocean debris and plastic pollution.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Spent her freshman year at Iowa, where she appeared in 31 matches and 100 total sets... averaged 4.28 assists per set and tallied 428 total assists, including a career-high 28 assists against Kent State... added 188 digs and 35 blocks, while contributing 39 kills and 12 service aces on the offensive end... recorded two double-doubles on the season against Rutgers (26 assists, 12 digs) and Northwestern (13 assists, 10 digs).
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a varsity starter all four seasons at Avenues: The World School in New York City, also twice serving as team captain... named a Press Volleyball Top Athlete and an AVCA Phenom in 2021... won the 2022 Capitol Hill 17 Open Best Setter Award and was a member of the UA Next All-America Camp... named the World School NYC Athlete of the Year, Offensive Athlete of the Year and Most Versatile Player as a junior... earned the Aviator Award, Core Value Recognition and Tri-Season Athlete Award (volleyball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field)... holds school track and field records in the indoor 55 meters, 200 meters and 300 meters as well as the outdoor 100 meters and long jump.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Ronnie and Kelly Mateo... has two brothers and two sisters... mother ran track at UC Irvine and father played football at Cornell (1992-96), graduating as the team's third all-time receiving leader... during high school, was also a member of the Food and Hunger Advocacy Club and the Zero Waste Club, while volunteering at St. Clements Food Bank, Holy Apostles and City Meals on Wheels... authored three bilingual children's books about ocean debris and plastic pollution.

Rice vs. Central Arkansas Highlights
Sunday, August 31
Volleyball Exhibition vs. Houston Post-Match Press Conference
Sunday, August 24
VB Thea Carter Kick Save vs. Wichita State
Monday, August 18
2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25