Volleyball aiming for NCAA tournament after close miss last season

Middle blocker Lademi Ogunlana said she has no choice but to win when she lines up against No. 9 Texas A&M on Friday.

“I think everyone is on the same page about that,” Ogunlana said. “We belong, just as they do.”

The Aggies are the first of Rice volleyball’s six ranked preseason opponents. The Owls, who were 19-8 and 13-3 in the newly renamed American Conference last season, were voted to win the conference this year.

The senior said that the goals are to go undefeated in the preseason, win the conference championship and make it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Last year, the Owls finished second in the American and had the best national ranking in the conference (41st), making them a contender for an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. Instead, they were named one of the “first four out,” narrowly missing their chance at being chosen.

“That’s really gut-wrenching when you know you’re right there,” coach Genny Volpe said. “That really is sticking with us right now.”

The roster has 17 players, more than any Rice volleyball team in the past, with six total incoming freshmen and transfers. Five players graduated, but nobody transferred out.

“Our team is so stacked, and I don’t say that just to glaze, but we have such a deep roster that anyone that steps onto the court is going to make a huge impact from the start,” Ogunlana said.

Ogunlana and three other Owls were selected to the All-Conference Team this preseason. Also selected was Michigan State transfer and senior outside hitter Taylor Preston, who Volpe said comes to Rice with a lot of experience.

“She, to me, has the potential to dominate a match, like she can score points at a high level,” Volpe said of Preston. “When the game is on the line, she wants the ball. I think she’s a really exciting player for our team, and we do have a lot of high expectations of her.”

Junior outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa and sophomore setter Savannah Skopal were the other two Owls who earned the honor.

Volpe said the team is driven and competitive, but also caring and conscientious of how they talk to each other.

“They’ll literally jaw through the net at each other at practice, fighting for their points and super, super competitive,” Volpe said. “But they love each other. Afterwards, they’re like, ‘I’m sorry I did that.’”

For Tchouangwa, the banter in the locker room and across the net is a fun part of the team culture.

“I feel like we could still emphasize friendships and family,” Tchouangwa said. “We play volleyball, but we’re all super good friends at the end of the day.”