(01-23-2025 08:59 AM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  It's my understanding that there may be an additional transfer to add to the 2025 class. I believe she would be an underclassman from a P-4 program. It all depends whether there will be an additional scholarship available in the fall.

Stay tuned.

Any update on this?

I think this recruit is in limbo pending the resolution of the House settlement.

My understanding is that at some point the House settlement will be approved (probably on April 5th). At that point, schools can "opt-in" to the terms (you can't "opt-out"...if you don't take affirmative action to opt-in you are deemed to have elected to "opt-out").

The House settlement allows (among other items) extra scholarships and the possible transfer would take one of the extra scholarships.

That's my understanding.

Just give her an academic scholarship like everybody else does.

(02-25-2025 04:08 PM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  I think this recruit is in limbo pending the resolution of the House settlement.

My understanding is that at some point the House settlement will be approved (probably on April 5th). At that point, schools can "opt-in" to the terms (you can't "opt-out"...if you don't take affirmative action to opt-in you are deemed to have elected to "opt-out").

The House settlement allows (among other items) extra scholarships and the possible transfer would take one of the extra scholarships.

That's my understanding.

Does anyone know how we fared in the FAST College Invitational on Saturday? Curious how are two new outside hitters performed.

(03-31-2025 07:55 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Does anyone know how we fared in the FAST College Invitational on Saturday? Curious how are two new outside hitters performed.

I only got a little information from VolleyTalk about the match vs Texas.
This, of course, from the Texas persepective:

"Match 3 vs Rice - abby, torrey, whitney, mari, rella, emma, callie, addy, cari
Set 1 - 25-22 - 3 blocks, 11 kills, 7 errors 3 service, 4 digs, 3 aces
Set 2 - 25-22 - 4 blocks, 16 kills, 7 errors"

"Feels like Rice could be a good team this fall as well."

"The matches against Houston started a little rocky. Once the nerves settled, they started to work well together, and the blocks and hits were coming pretty quickly which is why they actually got to set 3.
The second match was also good against a tougher opponent. Don't know if TCU was playing all of they're starters, though. I didn't recognize some due to the poor lighting. .
Match against Rice was standard D1 volleyball level.
Match against Baylor had the smoothest and most cohesive team of the day."

Thanks.

So we played UT almost even Having said that, I believe UT lost their entire front line to graduation or transfer. Wonder if any of their incoming transfers were playing.

Surprised no writeup on riceowls.com

(03-31-2025 09:54 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Thanks.

So we played UT almost even Having said that, I believe UT lost their entire front line to graduation or transfer. Wonder if any of their incoming transfers were playing.

Surprised no writeup on riceowls.com

Looks like the OH Pitt trasnfer (Torrey) played against Rice.

Based on Genny's tweet just now it appears we landed another one. A ton of players recently entered the portal, including UT's stud, 6'4" MB, who averaged 5 1/2 blocks a match last year as their #2 MB. Two years of eligibility remaining, though I doubt we could afford her even we have a roster spot available.

Interestingly, the volleyball coaches were talking at the Night of Flight on Thursday about a Friday recruiting visit from a "top prospect" in the transfer portal. If we landed that recruit, I think we will be very pleased.

(05-03-2025 09:19 AM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Interestingly, the volleyball coaches were talking at the Night of Flight on Thursday about a Friday recruiting visit from a "top prospect" in the transfer portal. If we landed that recruit, I think we will be very pleased.

Is this the same or different player that was waiting for the House settlement?

(05-03-2025 10:49 AM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(05-03-2025 09:19 AM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Interestingly, the volleyball coaches were talking at the Night of Flight on Thursday about a Friday recruiting visit from a "top prospect" in the transfer portal. If we landed that recruit, I think we will be very pleased.

Is this the same or different player that was waiting for the House settlement?

Yes?

I don't think so...the recruit that was on campus yesterday was from the SEC (I think) and the recruit that we were waiting on based on scholarship limits was from the Big-12.

Confirmed that it is Arissa Smith from Mississippi State. She is a 6’2” MB. She went to Ridge Point and is the older sister of incoming freshman Aaliyah Smith.

She averaged 2.0 kills (.391) and had 102 blocks.

https://hailstate.com/sports/womens-voll...mith/10965

Good get. Pretty impressive resume at Mississippi State last year and looks like she has two more years.

(05-03-2025 07:59 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Confirmed that it is Arissa Smith from Mississippi State. She is a 6’2” MB. She went to Ridge Point and is the older sister of incoming freshman Aaliyah Smith.

She averaged 2.0 kills (.391) and had 102 blocks.

https://hailstate.com/sports/womens-voll...mith/10965

(05-03-2025 07:59 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Confirmed that it is Arissa Smith from Mississippi State. She is a 6’2” MB. She went to Ridge Point and is the older sister of incoming freshman Aaliyah Smith.

She averaged 2.0 kills (.391) and had 102 blocks.

https://hailstate.com/sports/womens-voll...mith/10965

Looks like she has 2 years of eligibility. Played in all 25 matches last season; started in 23. Clearly, defense is her strength. Led team in blocks; 6th most in tough SEC. Interesting addition as MB is currently a strength with Agunlana and Carter as starters, and Gutierrez as backup. Perhaps, we play Carter at opposite as we did on occassion last season to get her in the lineup (behind Agunlana and Knobbe). Will be nice to have a strong blocker upfront for a change.

Wade Smith is their dad. Former OL for the Texans.

(05-09-2025 10:45 PM)70OWL_vbfan Wrote:  

(05-03-2025 09:11 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Wade Smith is their dad. Former OL for the Texans.

Based the Volleyball thread, we have 17 on the roster, currently a max of 12 on scholarship from NCAA before new settlement IF rice fully funded this roster.
My guess for 12:
Johnson, Mansfield, Harris, Ogunlana, Gutierrez, Tchouangwa, Carter, Skopal, Smith *2 sisters, Taylor Preston & Sydnee Peterson. - 12 for 2025 if we were maxing out scholarships, do you think Rice would fund any portion of the remaining 5 (the roster is 17 right now)

Pending 5 walk-on by my guess:
Mateo (Jr setter)
Love (JR lib)
Patel (Soph- DS)
Duroktic (oPP - Junior)
Furoyama (F - Lib)

5 walkon - - will Rice Athletics pay for a part or all Of those 5, now that they can per new settlement? What are your thoughts on women’s sports if RICE could fund all 17, would you help or support?
Why would Rice not fund the whole roster? Please give examples so anyone that donates knows where their money is going.
Rice tuition is 90k per year without financial aid, of that roster assuming at least 2-3 don’t qualify for aid what would you do? Would you rather take them off the team? This example could extend to all women’s sports.

First off, if Duroktic is the JUCO tansfer, she's on scholarship. BTW, I thought the current scholarship limit is 15; not 12. And, yes, Rice will fund pending the NCAA settlement.

(05-09-2025 11:07 PM)70OWL_vbfan Wrote:  

(05-09-2025 10:58 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-09-2025 10:45 PM)70OWL_vbfan Wrote:  

(05-03-2025 09:11 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Wade Smith is their dad. Former OL for the Texans.

Based the Volleyball thread, we have 17 on the roster, currently a max of 12 on scholarship from NCAA before new settlement IF rice fully funded this roster.
My guess for 12:
Johnson, Mansfield, Harris, Ogunlana, Gutierrez, Tchouangwa, Carter, Skopal, Smith *2 sisters, Taylor Preston & Sydnee Peterson. - 12 for 2025 if we were maxing out scholarships, do you think Rice would fund any portion of the remaining 5 (the roster is 17 right now)

Pending 5 walk-on by my guess:
Mateo (Jr setter)
Love (JR lib)
Patel (Soph- DS)
Duroktic (oPP - Junior)
Furoyama (F - Lib)

5 walkon - - will Rice Athletics pay for a part or all Of those 5, now that they can per new settlement? What are your thoughts on women’s sports if RICE could fund all 17, would you help or support?
Why would Rice not fund the whole roster? Please give examples so anyone that donates knows where their money is going.
Rice tuition is 90k per year without financial aid, of that roster assuming at least 2-3 don’t qualify for aid what would you do? Would you rather take them off the team? This example could extend to all women’s sports.

First off, if Duroktic is the JUCO tansfer, she's on scholarship. BTW, I thought the current scholarship limit is 15; not 12. And, yes, Rice will fund pending the NCAA settlement.

Walt - Volleyball is currently a max of 12 scholarships, that’s a fact. Women’s Basketball is 15.
With the new rosters limits - Rice could fund a max of 18 roster spots for volleyball. Could you clarify how you know that Rice would fund all spots?

I've heard that we will fund at least 15, if not more. The elder Smith was added on that understanding. And Duroktic is on scholarship.

Based on Genny's latest LFG tweet, we apparently landed another one. I'm assuming it's not a transfer, but rather a recruit for next year's incoming class.

(06-15-2025 09:42 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Based on Genny's latest LFG tweet, we apparently landed another one. I'm assuming it's not a transfer, but rather a recruit for next year's incoming class.

Today was the first day coaches could officially offer 2027 recruits, so I'm thinking it is one (or more?) from that class.