Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

(05-18-2026 11:32 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

(05-18-2026 11:47 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:32 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

(05-18-2026 11:56 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:47 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:32 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

I don't know. She's not on the UH coaches' roster. If she is still at UH then why the step down from P4?

(05-18-2026 12:04 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:56 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:47 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:32 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

I don't know. She's not on the UH coaches' roster. If she is still at UH then why the step down from P4?

Her bio and roster placement were just deleted this morning, I believe. Rice is a superior volleyball program with a greater national reputation and better overall facilities. UH had a several very good years (2021 - '23) when they essentially bought their entire starting rotation via the transfer portal. They've been average or worse ever since.

UH said they were broke, so maybe thats why; no NIL for volleyball

(05-18-2026 12:12 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 12:04 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:56 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:47 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:32 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Genny just announced Cruz's replacement as Associate Head Coach-- Caitlin Nolan-Ayeni, formerly Associate Head Coach across town with UH (where she was in charge of defense and passing), and two-time AVCA all-american libero at Iowa State. Sounds like a great hire, particularly given the newcomers in our backline defense this year. Here's her bio from when she was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2023...

https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/vol...head-coach

Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

I don't know. She's not on the UH coaches' roster. If she is still at UH then why the step down from P4?

Her bio and roster placement were just deleted this morning, I believe. Rice is a superior volleyball program with a greater national reputation and better overall facilities. UH had a several very good years (2021 - '23) when they essentially bought their entire starting rotation via the transfer portal. They've been average or worse ever since.

(05-19-2026 07:19 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  UH said they were broke, so maybe thats why; no NIL for volleyball

(05-18-2026 12:12 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 12:04 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:56 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:47 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Why did she leave UH and where has she been since then?

Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

I don't know. She's not on the UH coaches' roster. If she is still at UH then why the step down from P4?

Her bio and roster placement were just deleted this morning, I believe. Rice is a superior volleyball program with a greater national reputation and better overall facilities. UH had a several very good years (2021 - '23) when they essentially bought their entire starting rotation via the transfer portal. They've been average or worse ever since.

They had a ton of NIL money several years ago; that's how they suddenly got competitive from 2021 - '23. And it's not like we have a ton of WVB NIL money.

(05-19-2026 08:32 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-19-2026 07:19 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  UH said they were broke, so maybe thats why; no NIL for volleyball

(05-18-2026 12:12 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 12:04 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2026 11:56 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Didn't she just leave UH to come to Rice?

I don't know. She's not on the UH coaches' roster. If she is still at UH then why the step down from P4?

Her bio and roster placement were just deleted this morning, I believe. Rice is a superior volleyball program with a greater national reputation and better overall facilities. UH had a several very good years (2021 - '23) when they essentially bought their entire starting rotation via the transfer portal. They've been average or worse ever since.

They had a ton of NIL money several years ago; that's how they suddenly got competitive from 2021 - '23. And it's not like we have a ton of WVB NIL money.

I dont think it was NIL money they just got lucky with some transfers before NIL became a thing. Head coach got a big raise off of it and has been avg ever since with a roster that turns over a lot yearly. He seems like an odd one to play for. Had to be a slap in his face for his main asst to leave across town and the other asst quit last year to work in club full time in Houston as well.

Any news of 2028 commits? I know we have two so far but can’t find anything about who they are.

(06-19-2026 10:02 AM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Any news of 2028 commits? I know we have two so far but can’t find anything about who they are.

Looks like the two commitments are twin sisters, Nyah and Aliyah Harris.
Aliyah is a 5’10” MB/OH and Nyah is a 5’10” setter. They attend Blue Valley West High School in Kansas. The team won the 6A State Championship in 2025.

Third 2028 commitment is 5'4" Morgan Nesloney, L/DS, The John Cooper School, TAV Houston.

We have a 4th 2028 commitment from Gracie White. She is a 6'3" MB from Plano (Plano West HS) and plays club with Dallas Skyline. Plano West is usually a top 10 6A team in Texas. She is currently ranked #60 in the 2028 PrepDig national recruiting rankings.

https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/plano/plano-...1b2amdti22
https://www.hudl.com/profile/20966644/Gracie-White
https://prepdig.com/player/gracie-white/
https://www.instagram.com/graciewhite_vball/