<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FjqzA_0vlp0HQE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FjqzA_0vlp0HQE00" width="1600" height="1066" >The Rice Owls volleyball team is set to kick off their American Athletic Conference schedule with two matches this weekend. They will face Tulane on Friday, September 27, in New Orleans, followed by a home match against UTSA on Sunday, September 29. Rice, voted as the conference's preseason favorite for the first time, boasts an impressive record and seeks to continue their strong play.<ul><li>Rice leads the all-time series against Tulane, 17-13, and UTSA, 31-7.</li><li>Rice finished non-conference play with a winning record for the fourth consecutive season.</li></ul>Yes, ButTulane enters this matchup after significantly improving from last season's 6-25 record, currently boasting an 8-4 start and a five-match winning streak.State of Play<ul><li>Rice has an impressive 117-28 (.807) conference record since 2014.</li><li>Savannah Skopal is averaging 33.3 assists per match early in the season.</li></ul>The Owls aim to sustain their momentum against Tulane, leveraging their strong conference history, before returning home to face UTSA. Continued performance from key players like Skopal could be crucial for Rice's success.Bottom LineAs the Owls prepare for conference play, their top ranking and strong season thus far position them as serious contenders, making these matches critical for establishing early dominance in the conference.</div></body>

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PREVIEW: Rice Volleyball Opens AAC Play Against Tulane, UTSA

The Rice Owls volleyball team is set to kick off their American Athletic Conference schedule with two matches this weekend. They will face Tulane on Friday, September 27, in New Orleans, followed by a home match against UTSA on Sunday, September 29. Rice, voted as the conference's preseason favorite for the first time, boasts an impressive record and seeks to continue their strong play.