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Rice and Hawai`i Battle in East Meets West Volleyball Showdown

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Rice and Hawai`i Battle in East Meets West Volleyball Showdown




  • Listen to Rice and Hawai`i Match Live


    On Oct. 21, Hawaii and Rice will meet in a battle between Western and Eastern Division leaders. Rice is off to the best start in school history. The Owls have been receiving votes for five-straight weeks. The Rainbow Wahine are ranked No. 3 in the AVCA/CSTV Top 25 poll, their highest ranking of the season. Both team's are undefeated in WAC play. The Owls are 7-0, while the Rainbow Wahine stand 6-0.

    Hawaii had a similar meeting with an Eastern Division foe last season at this time. On Oct. 18, 2003, 6-0 SMU faced 6-0 Hawaii in Honolulu. The Rainbow Wahine emerged victorious with a 3-0 sweep of the Mustangs. SMU would lose only one other WAC match other rest of the season.

    The scenario repeats itself on Oct. 21 when Rice travels to Honolulu to take on Hawaii. The Owls have never beaten the Rainbow Wahine.

    With their 18-2 record to open the 2004 campaign, the Owls are off to their best start in program history behind first-year head coach Genny Volpe. The team's 7-0 WAC record marks the best start in league play ever. Rice is currently on an 11-match winning streak, one of the school record of 12 in a row during the 1995 season. Nine of the 11 wins have come in straight sets.

    Rice faces a sizable task when they face off with third-ranked Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine have won 84 consecutive WAC matches, with their last loss coming to BYU on Nov. 10, 1998. Hawai`i also has not lost to an unranked opponent since Pepperdine scored a victory on Sept. 12, 1997, a span of 188 matches.

    The match will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, which opened with a women's volleyball match vs. San Jose State, on Oct. 21, 1994.

    Tickets for the UH matches this weekend are $14 for lower level seats, with upper level seats running from $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and $3 for UH students. Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, the UH Campus Center, Rainbowtique Ward Center, the Aloha Stadium Box Office or OCET at Windward Community College, online at hawaiiathletics.com or by phone at (808) 944-2697.