The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, October 3
Birmingham, Ala.
7:00 p.m.
UAB
vs
Rice
Blazers Set to Host Rice and UTSA
10/2/2025 3:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Blazer Volleyball is back at Bartow Arena for two matches, hosting preseason favorites Rice and UTSA. The Blazers are looking to notch their first conference win of the season, one of two teams not to do so during week one.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday, October 3, 7 p.m., vs Rice - Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
Sunday, October 5, 1 p.m., vs UTSA - Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
LAST TIME OUT
UAB dropped both of its matches over conference opening weekend, falling to Wichita State and North Texas. The Shockers, expected to finish well in the conference, went on to win their second matchup of the weekend in straight sets at Memphis.
Despite the losses, the opening weekend saw the return of Jorda Crook and Mia Reese, both of whom missed the Alabama Showdown. Crook led the Blazers in kills in both matches, while Reese finished with a team second-best 22 kills.
Summer Snead tallied a career-best seven total blocks with seven kills against North Texas.
SCOUTING RICE AND UTSA
Rice
Rice owns the worst overall winning percentage in the American Conference at .385 (5-8), however, Rice is still expected to be among the best in the conference. Its strong non-conference schedule saw six ranked losses, with the seventh preseason loss coming to Missouri Valley powerhouse Northern Iowa. The Owls swept all four of their non-conference victories.
Rice was shocked in the American opener against Temple, as Temple won in five sets in Houston. Tulsa looked to make it two shock losses in a row for Rice as they went up 2-0, before getting reverse-swept by Rice.
Taylor Preston is the reigning American Offensive Player of the Week. Preston hit above .300 in both of the Owls' matches. She tallied 52 kills across the weekend, including a season-high 27 against Temple. Preston leads Rice with 4.17 kills per set.
UTSA
The Roadrunners lost their conference opener to Tulsa, 3-2, before defeating Charlotte, 3-1. Prior to the American season, UTSA racked up wins against lesser competition, ending the non-conference on a five-game winning streak.
UTSA's defense is amongst the best in the country, at 33rd in digs per set, just a hair under 16 per set.
Freshman Taylor Gaines won American Freshman of the Week back in early September with 36 kills on a .250 hitting percentage as the Roadrunners defeated DePaul and Lindenwood over a 2-1 weekend.
SERIES HISTORY
Rice
The Blazers are looking for their first win against Rice since 2013. Currently riding a 13-match skid against the Owls, UAB has not forced a fifth set against Rice since 2017. The Owls lead the all-time series 23-8 and are 10-4 in Birmingham.
The last time UAB won at Bartow Arena was October 23, 2011, defeating Rice, 3-1.
UTSA
The Roadrunners lead the all-time series against the Blazers, 14-5. UTSA won last season's lone matchup in straight sets. However, UAB won the prior three meetings, including the last two matches in Bartow Arena. UAB is 4-5 all-time in Birmingham against UTSA.
LOOKING AROUND THE AMERICAN
Wichita State and South Florida are the only two remaining undefeated teams in American play, each 2-0 entering week two. Charlotte joined the two-win club on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win over East Carolina. The Pirates' loss drops them to 0-3, along with UAB, as the only winless teams remaining in the conference.
Memphis' Amanda Hardt is sixth in DI in kills per set with 4.86 kills per set.
Defense has been on display across the conference as two teams ranking in the top 10 nationally in digs per set. Tulane (17.71) and Charlotte (17.12) rank third and 10th, respectively, in the category. Temple ranks seventh in the country in total digs with 970.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday, October 3, 7 p.m., vs Rice - Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
Sunday, October 5, 1 p.m., vs UTSA - Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
LAST TIME OUT
UAB dropped both of its matches over conference opening weekend, falling to Wichita State and North Texas. The Shockers, expected to finish well in the conference, went on to win their second matchup of the weekend in straight sets at Memphis.
Despite the losses, the opening weekend saw the return of Jorda Crook and Mia Reese, both of whom missed the Alabama Showdown. Crook led the Blazers in kills in both matches, while Reese finished with a team second-best 22 kills.
Summer Snead tallied a career-best seven total blocks with seven kills against North Texas.
SCOUTING RICE AND UTSA
Rice
Rice owns the worst overall winning percentage in the American Conference at .385 (5-8), however, Rice is still expected to be among the best in the conference. Its strong non-conference schedule saw six ranked losses, with the seventh preseason loss coming to Missouri Valley powerhouse Northern Iowa. The Owls swept all four of their non-conference victories.
Rice was shocked in the American opener against Temple, as Temple won in five sets in Houston. Tulsa looked to make it two shock losses in a row for Rice as they went up 2-0, before getting reverse-swept by Rice.
Taylor Preston is the reigning American Offensive Player of the Week. Preston hit above .300 in both of the Owls' matches. She tallied 52 kills across the weekend, including a season-high 27 against Temple. Preston leads Rice with 4.17 kills per set.
UTSA
The Roadrunners lost their conference opener to Tulsa, 3-2, before defeating Charlotte, 3-1. Prior to the American season, UTSA racked up wins against lesser competition, ending the non-conference on a five-game winning streak.
UTSA's defense is amongst the best in the country, at 33rd in digs per set, just a hair under 16 per set.
Freshman Taylor Gaines won American Freshman of the Week back in early September with 36 kills on a .250 hitting percentage as the Roadrunners defeated DePaul and Lindenwood over a 2-1 weekend.
SERIES HISTORY
Rice
The Blazers are looking for their first win against Rice since 2013. Currently riding a 13-match skid against the Owls, UAB has not forced a fifth set against Rice since 2017. The Owls lead the all-time series 23-8 and are 10-4 in Birmingham.
The last time UAB won at Bartow Arena was October 23, 2011, defeating Rice, 3-1.
UTSA
The Roadrunners lead the all-time series against the Blazers, 14-5. UTSA won last season's lone matchup in straight sets. However, UAB won the prior three meetings, including the last two matches in Bartow Arena. UAB is 4-5 all-time in Birmingham against UTSA.
LOOKING AROUND THE AMERICAN
Wichita State and South Florida are the only two remaining undefeated teams in American play, each 2-0 entering week two. Charlotte joined the two-win club on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win over East Carolina. The Pirates' loss drops them to 0-3, along with UAB, as the only winless teams remaining in the conference.
Memphis' Amanda Hardt is sixth in DI in kills per set with 4.86 kills per set.
Defense has been on display across the conference as two teams ranking in the top 10 nationally in digs per set. Tulane (17.71) and Charlotte (17.12) rank third and 10th, respectively, in the category. Temple ranks seventh in the country in total digs with 970.
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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