Aug. 16, 2006

HOUSTON, Texas - "As far as our teams goes, we are very young, but our team has very high goals," according to third-year head coach Genny Volpe. "I think last year, although we had a very competitive season (finishing 17-12), our team feels that we underachieved, and we want to achieve bigger and better things in 2006."

Although the Owls return four starters plus the starting libero from a year ago, they are a very young team with just one senior leading nine sophomores and freshmen on the 14-player roster. Volpe, though, fully expects her young charges to be up to the challenge of another competitive season and replacing a pair of 2005 AVCA all-region honorees in outside hitter Olaya Pazo and setter Kristina Hoban.

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

Leading the Owls in 2006 will be lone senior Tessa Kuykendall, herself a 2005 AVCA all-region and all-Conference USA honoree. Rice's block leader the past two seasons, she already ranks in the top five at Rice in all three career blocking categories. Additionally, she more than doubled her career kill total in 2005, posting 364 while playing in all 113 games to finish second on the team after recording 355 in her first two seasons combined.

"I'm looking for her to lead our team and be one of the top blockers in the conference," noted Volpe. "We're also looking for her to expand her range offensively. She's always been a pretty big offensive weapon for us, so I'm looking for her to continue that and be a strong force at the net defensively."

With Jessica Holderness shifting to the outside after stepping in to start in the middle last year because of injuries to her teammates, there is an opening in the lineup and a trio of freshmen vying for the start. Ekaette Ibok matriculated at Rice in fall 2005, but a knee injury kept her sidelined until the spring. The 6-1 freshman used her time wisely, listening and learning from her coaches and teammates, then put those lessons to good use in the spring when she finally took the court.

"Ekaette's best attribute is her competitive nature," said Volpe. "She's a natural blocker. She is someone, who with more experience, potentially is going to be one of the best blockers in Conference USA." Joining Ibok in the battle for the starting middle spot are newcomers Natalie Bogan and Leah Duncan.

A decorated multi-sport athlete from St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley, Calif., Bogan was also a member of Golden Bear volleyball club. Checking in at 5-11, "she might be a little undersized for her position, but she makes up for it with her leaping ability, her speed and her volleyball intelligence," observed Volpe.

"I see big things for Natalie in her freshman year. She is going to bring speed to the middle that we have not seen in many years." Duncan is also a multidimensional player that the coaches expect to contend for time. She is a three-time all-district honoree from Mansfield High school, and with her 6-1 frame, she will get training on the right side as well as the middle.

"She'll be one of the biggest blockers on the team from day one," points out Volpe. "She puts up a very nice block and hits the quicks very well."

Although moving to primarily the right side in 2006, junior Mendi Hardy will also be ready to step back into the middle if called upon by the coaches.

OUTSIDE HITTER

Another offensive threat returning to the lineup in 2006 is sophomore Karyn Morgan. As a true freshman in 2005, she earned one of the starting outside hitting positions in the preseason and never relinquished while starting every match and playing in all 113 games. She finished the year third overall in kills with 348 and in digs with 310. The coaches look for Morgan "to be a very strong force on the outside for us."

"She already has a very natural ability to terminate play," noted Volpe. "She has been working on expanding her shot selection in the off-season. We've been working on her control and expanding her offensive range."

Also returning from the starting lineup from a year ago, Holderness will now look to earn a starting nod as an outside hitter after playing in the middle as a freshman. A versatile athlete, she moved from the outside to middle in 2005 to shore up the injury depleted position and went on to start every match, playing in every game. Now returning to "the position she'd been meant to play," the coaches expect Holderness to continue showing her versatility.

"The great thing about Holderness is she can hit several different tempos," observed Volpe. "She can hit slides, she can hit quicks, she can hit the high ball, she can hit out of the back row. She's extremely athletic, very powerful, and quick on defense."

Junior Kristina Dennemann looks to regain her starting outside position after missing almost half the season with an injury. Before pulling out of the lineup, she averages 1.90 kills per game and 3.16 digs per game. After enduring pain in the spring and foot surgery over the summer, Volpe says Dennemann "is looking to come back stronger than ever this fall.

"Dennemann will find a way onto the floor because of her aggressive and fighting nature. She just wants to play so much and she's very aggressive on the floor and very defensively oriented."

Joining the fray for a starting position are Jessica Boulavsky, a 6-3 freshman from Clear Brook High School, and Jennifer McClean, a 6-0 freshman from Cy Fair High school. Volpe expects that "McClean is going to find her way onto the floor sooner rather than later. (She has) great arm swing, great ball control. She can play defense and pass with the best of them."

Boulavsky could prove to be a threat to opponents from either side of the net as she will be training primarily from the right side but could see time on the left if needed.

RIGHT SIDE HITTERS

With her height and versatility, Boulavsky is expected to contribute immediately on the right side of the net. The Rice coaches noted that she's already developed a great deal in the year prior to the start of her collegiate career and "see a lot of positive things for her, and not only in her freshman year but also the years to come.

"She's going to add nice height and a big block right away," noted Volpe. "She hits from a very high spot, and the nice thing about her is her versatility. She can hit on the left, she can hit on the right, and she can also hold her own in the back court, which these days is a rarity for someone her size."

Moving to the right side from the middle is junior Mendi Hardy. After battling injuries as a sophomore transfer in 2005, the coaches had her train on the right side during spring workouts and she "showed a lot of potential there.

"We're looking for her to compete for a starting position on the right," stated Volpe. "With her size and her potential to be a very strong blocker, we feel that right side is her best position, and she has embraced that role in a very positive way."

Also competing for the starting right-side position after an injury-riddled freshman campaign is Jessica May. May came on for the Owls late in the season, and after receiving a starting nod in the final match of the year again Louisville, responded with a .412 hitting percentage with seven kills while adding 10 digs. She also had some quality playing time for Rice during spring workouts. Volpe noted that May "is a very natural volleyball player.

"She has a great sense of the game, and she sees the court very well. She's a big block. As a left-hander, she's very deceptive with her arm. She has a very strong serve and we're looking for her to be very competitive"

SETTER

Junior Rachel Lopez has big shoes to fill as she looks to take the setting reins from three-year starter Kristina Hoban, who finished her career ranked second all-time at Rice in assists. But the coaches believe Lopez is up to the task after her hard work in the off-season and the quality game experience she earned in 2005 when injuries to her teammates pushed her into the starting right-side position, where she started 12 matches.

"From the first day of spring to the last day of spring there was significant strides in Rachel, said Volpe. "She became more of a vocal leader, and just getting more comfortable and confident in her role has been key for her. She will do whatever she can to help the team win. I'm looking for her to take that mentality and really embrace it for the setting position because we're going to need that from her."

Backing up and challenging Lopez will be May and freshman Channing Grigsby. May "is a dual type of player, she can hit and she can set. She's going to be a definite contender on the right side and she can step into a setting role if called upon."

Grigsby comes to Rice from Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Brentwood School. Volpe notes that she is "a very experienced setter. She has played at a very high level. She is the ultimate team player and should add a lot of competition and depth to the setting position."

LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST

Returning for her third year at the libero position is junior Yvette Kirk. In her first two seasons as the starting libero, Kirk has already amassed 741 digs for the Owls, leading the team both seasons. "Going into her junior year, I think both she and I are expecting a lot from her," said Volpe. "Her junior year should be the one where she is the most consistent, both with passing and defense. She was very consistent in the spring with her ball control. She's also continuing to work on a more aggressive serve. With each year Yvette gets more confident."

In addition to Kirk, Volpe is ready to call on any and all of her players to step up in the back court when needed. She points to Dennemann's defensive prowess and serving skills as example. Despite battling pain and limited jumping ability, "her serve receive was really strong this spring, that was probably her best skill. She always fights on defense, is always really aggressive. I'm looking for her to make a significant impact on the passing and defensive side."

THE SCHEDULE

The young Owls will dive head first into the 2006 season Aug. 25-26, opening at the LSU Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La., where they face 2005 NCAA participant LSU on its home court, followed the next match by 2005 NCAA regional semifinalist Penn State. The Nittany Lions enter 2006 as the preseason No. 2 team after receiving 17 first-place votes. Volpe noted that "right off the bat we'll know where we stand amongst the best in the country."

The squad returns home the next weekend to host the competitive Holiday Inn Select/Rice Invitational, taking on DePaul, Texas-San Antonio and Illinois State. The Owls also host McNeese State at Autry Court before hitting the road for a pair of tournaments. First is a trek to Tucson, Ariz., to challenge 2005 NCAA regional finalist Arizona, the preseason No. 17, along with matches against Montana State and Bradley in the Wildcat Classic. The next week, its off to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Michigan/Nike Challenge. There the Owls face their opponents from the 2004 NCAA tournament with the Wolverines, in addition to New Hampshire and a challenging IPFW team that finished 24-6 a year ago.

Rice begins its second season in Conference USA with a trip to UAB on Sept. 22. The Owls return home immediately to host Memphis on Sept. 24 at Autry Court. While the Owls enjoy their first six league matches at home, they face the daunting task of playing seven of their final nine matches of the season on the road.

"I think conference this year should prove to be very competitive," observed Volpe. "A lot of teams had very young talent in Conference USA last year, including (2005 champion) Marshall. To me, the conference championship is out there for the taking and its going to be very competitive from the beginning of September all the way to the end of November."

The Owls will once again enjoy the benefits of not having to leave home for the 2006 C-USA tournament as crosstown rival Houston will be serving as host Nov. 16-19. "I think the conference tournament being held in Houston is a very positive thing for us," said Volpe. "The fact that we are not going to have to travel and with the academic demands on our players during that time of the year, that's going to help us. I think its also great for the city of Houston. Its such a great city to host a championship."

Volpe is certainly not daunted by the tasks ahead as she sees certain advantages to having so much young talent on her team for the 2006 campaign: "I don't know what other people believe about our team or think about our team, and that's kind of a good thing to me. They don't know what to expect with two significant starters graduating. Its only a chance for us to have our younger players shine. I'm really looking forward to seeing that from our younger players. The future is extremely bright for our team, but I think that everyone on our team would agree that we don't want to wait a couple of years to achieve great things."