After the last two horrid performances, we better turn things around fast as we now face league-leading Tulane, who comes in with an overall 17-3 record (9-1 AAC, 6-1 road). Yes, their OOC schedule was a joke (sweeping lowly Duke, getting swept by lowly Georgia and losing a 5-setter to N.Dakota State); no other OOC opponent had a pulse. Having said that, their only loss in conference was a 5-setter on the road at FAU. They only have 2 sweeps (UNT, Charlotte) and have won five 5-setters (FIU, UTSA, Memphis, Tulsa and USF). They're obvious good and certainly resilient, but it's difficult to assess how good. With only several exceptions they are now exactly blowing teams out.

Tulane features a very balanced offense with 5 different players having collected 145+ kills on the season, with two (Burks, Mack) with over 200 kills. As a team they're hitting an exception .275. They also appear to be an outstanding service team, with 5 different players with 18-25 aces. This could be a real issue for us as the past two matches we have not handled UNT's and Tulsa's very mediocre serves well.

On defense they're averaging a very solid 14.5 digs/set and 1.8 blocks/set.

Bottom line is we have to play better than we've played the past two match. Much better. Our offense has been awful and our backline defense, which was so good for a stretch there, has fallen apart. And play in the block HAS to be more consistent. Finally, the service game has got to get back on track. It has been a disaster the last two matches-- and not only the frequent errors. The incredibly high frequency of lollypop/float serves are fooling no one and simply allow the opposition to quickly get in system for efficient attack.

This is a big RPI swing game for Rice.

An opponent with a record of 17-3 means a loss won’t hurt too much, but a win has chance to bring us up 10+ spots.

Heck with RPI. We desperately need the win to regain some level of confidence after our last two performances. And at this point RPI is meaningless as there is absolutely no chance we're going to get an at large NCAA birth (even if we run the table through the rest of the regular season). We need to win the AAC tournament. Fortunately, we're hosting. Unfortunately, our play at home all season has been anything but inspiring.

(10-27-2026 01:26 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Heck with RPI. We desperately need the win to regain some level of confidence after our last two performances. And at this point RPI is meaningless as there is absolutely no chance we're going to get an at large NCAA birth (even if we run the table through the rest of the regular season). We need to win the AAC tournament. Fortunately, we're hosting. Unfortunately, our play at home all season has been anything but inspiring.

+1

Just win baby!

Standings thru 10/25:
9-1 Tulane
8-2 ECU
7-3 FAU Rice Tulsa
6-4 USF
5-5 Temple
4-6 UNT
————
3-7 UTSA Wichita UAB
2-8 Memphis
1-9 clt

Top 8 make the conference tourney

RPI through Sunday’s games (10/25):

59 Tulane (up 10)
71 Tulsa (up 10)
74 Rice (up 2)
102 FAU (down 9)
117 USF (up…)
118 ECU (no change)
120 UNT (up…)

With six regular season games remaining, my opinion is that “running the table to the conference tournament final” would put any of the top three RPI teams up into the low 40s which certainly would be enough to be in the Conversation for at-large consideration, and probably on the bubble. Since in that scenario any of the three would also be regular season champs, that is an at-large worthy resume (especially for Tulane who is already into the high 50s). In fact I think Tulane can afford to go 7-1 (not 8-0) to remain in contention for that possibility. And Rice / Tulsa both have a quality OOC win (Creighton) on the resume.

I actually think Tulane “controls their destiny” and can clinch an at-large with 7 straight wins to the conference semis.

What excites me more right now as a fan is the opportunity to compete for the regular season title… that probably would also require a 6-0 finish (or at least 5-1 with a sweep of Tulane) but it all starts wit tonight and tonight starts with set number one.

So let’s take it one set at a time, Owls, and start showing’em what Owl VolleybOwl is all about!!!

Tulane is the only AAC team with a legitimate shot at an at large birth. Rice is out of the running. No way our RPI is going to get down into the low 40s by then, and our overall resume stinks, especially with Creighton now out of the Top 30.

Just win. That's all.

No Arissa Smith again. As was the case on Sunday, she’s not even at the match in street clothes.

Credit finally getting the start. Simmons starting again instead of Dorotik.

0-2 start :/

Peterson starts it off hitting it long twice and on the third point overpasses out. Genny better not leave her in long if this continues.

(10-28-2026 02:09 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Tulane is the only AAC team with a legitimate shot at an at large birth. Rice is out of the running. No way our RPI is going to get down into the low 40s by then, and our overall resume stinks, especially with Creighton now out of the Top 30.

The server #3 for Tulane with a couple aces already definitely could qualify for an at large birth all by herself.

Yikes , 3-8 now…

Timeout Rice

3-8. Seay hit long and Peterson hits long again from the back row. Basically gifting Tulane points.

Genny calls her 2nd timeout down 6-12. Way too many passive tips over.

10-15 at media timeout.

Bello and Schneider (as a RS) check in. 11-17

14-20. Smith checks in for Peterson.

We can’t block or block touch anything tonight. And we are jumping way too early giving Tulane wide open space to hit.

16-25