In a tightly-fought match, the No. 23 Rice Owls volleyball team defeated No. 22 USC in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-18), Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse in a battle of ranked foes.
 
It is the second sweep of a ranked opponent in school history and the first since 2009.
 
Rice outhit the Trojans, .214-to-.144. Senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley led the Owls with 14 kills while .400 hitting. Graduate student right side hitter Emilia Weske recorded her second straight double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.
 
Sophomore setter Darby Harris added a double-double with a career-high 32 assists while adding 14 digs.
 
Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Knobbe (6 kills/.500 hitting) and freshman outside hitter Cindy Tchouangwa (6 kills) also contributed offensively.

Defensively, senior libero Nia McCardell led all players with 18 digs.

Around the rest of the league, Tulsa took down Big Ten opponent Michigan State in four sets in Fayetteville, Arkansas, while Charlotte defeated Coastal Carolina and North Texas swept UNLV.
 

Saturday, August 26, 2023 Women's Volleyball

Away	Home	Location	Links
East Carolina 3	UNCG 0	Stateboro, Ga.	Box Score
FDU 1	Florida Atlantic 3	Boca Raton, Fla.	Box Score
Wichita State 3	Houston Christian 1	Lubbock, Texas	Box Score
Tulane 1	SFA 3	Mobile, Ala.	Box Score
Miami (OH) 3	Memphis 0	Memphis, Tenn.	Box Score
SMU 1	Utah State 3	Lincoln, Neb.
Texas A&M-Commerce 1	UTSA 3	San Antonio, Texas	Box Score
Tulsa 3	Michigan State 1	Fayetteville, Ark.	Box Score
Coastal Carolina 2	Charlotte 3	Charlotte, N.C.	Box Score
Austin Peay 3	UAB 2	Birmingham, Ala.	Box Score
North Texas 3	UNLV 0	Boulder, Colo.	Box Score
LIU 0	Temple 3	Philadelphia, Pa.	Box Score
USC 0	Rice 3	Houston, Texas	Box Score
Florida 3	South Florida 2	Tampa, Fla.	Box Score

Six teams will wrap up opening weekend on Sunday, August 27 beginning with Tulane at South Alabam at 1 p.m. ET. Preseason favorites SMU will take on No. 5 Nebraska in Lincoln. The full schedule can be found here.