Players to watch

Photo by Kairi Mano | The Rice Thresher
The volleyball team practices on Tuesday ahead of their home opener on August 29. Kairi Mano / Thresher

By Kathleen Ortiz 8/26/25 8:56pm

Senior middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana called this year’s volleyball team “stacked,” but in case you are already too busy with classes to learn the whole roster, here are five players all Rice fans should know going into the home opener Aug. 29 against No. 9 Texas A&M University.

1. Cindy Tchouangwa

Class: Junior

Position: Outside hitter

Tchouangwa played 16 matches last year, making 14 starts before getting injured. However, in 12 of the 16 matches, she recorded double-digit kills. In the fourth week of last season, Tchouangwa earned Offensive Player of the Week for the conference.

2. Lademi Ogunlana

Class: Senior

Position: Middle blocker

Named to the American Preseason All-Conference team this month, Ogunlana earned First Team All-Conference and AVCA All-Southwest Region Honorable Mention honors last season. Ogunlana had a career-high 79 blocks and 199 kills last season, the third most kills on the team. She also scored 257.5 points with 2.89 points per set.

3. Arissa Smith

Class: Junior

Position: Middle blocker

Smith, a Mississippi State transfer, led the Bulldogs with 102 blocks last season. The 2024 AVCA South All-Region Honorable Mention played in all 25 matches, starting in 23. Smith averaged 1.17 blocks per set last season, the most for Mississippi State and sixth-most in the SEC.

4. Taylor Preston

Class: Senior

Position: Outside hitter

The Michigan State transfer, also named to the American Preseason All-Conference team, had 305 kills, 139 digs and 47 blocks last season. She scored 346.5 points for the Spartans in 2024, the second most on the team. Before leaving for the American Conference, Preston earned Big Ten Sportsmanship honors.

5. Savannah Skopal

Class: Sophomore

Position: Setter

Skopal, who was one of three Owls to start all 27 matches last season, was also named to the American Preseason All-Conference team. In 2024, she earned Second Team All-Conference honors and was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team. She led the team last year with 955 assists and had three separate matches where she posted 50+ assists.