Tulsa Volleyball Opens Conference Action Against Temple and Rice

TULSA, Okla. – The American West Division-leading Tulsa volleyball team is set to open the conference schedule against a pair of Owl teams this week. First, the Golden Hurricane (7-4) will face Temple (9-2) on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m. in Philadelphia. Then, Tulsa will round out the week with a two-match series at home in the Donald W. Reynolds Center against Rice (6-4) on Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).

All three of Tulsa's matches this week will stream on ESPN+. Fans unable to attend the action in person can watch it live on ESPN+. TU fans can subscribe to ESPN+ to watch select Golden Hurricane volleyball, soccer, softball and basketball games. ESPN+ is offered at $9.99/month or $99.99/year. To subscribe, go to plus.espn.com. Fans will be able to access ESPN+ content only after they have subscribed.

With the nonconference schedule in the books, the Golden Hurricane volleyball team has made an impact in the national and American Athletic Conference statistics. Following a strong 2-1 performance at last week's SFA Tournament, graduate outside hitter Kayley Cassaday leads the nation in kills (228), kills per set (5.70), attacks (623) and attacks per set (15.58). She also ranks second in the country in total points scored (240) and points per set (6).

Cassaday's 35 kills against Sam Houston (9/16) are the most in a five-set match across the nation so far this season. Her 23 kills against UT Arlington (9/8) are tied for second-highest in a three-set match nationwide.

Senior setter Avery Kalsu is second in The American in assists per set (9.6) and third for total assists (384). She is also 13th in the league in total digs (124). Junior libero Marta Pecalli moved to fourth overall in the conference for digs (184) and digs per set (4.60).

Sophomore middle blocker Camryn Lingenbrink has jumped onto the AAC leaderboards for the first time. She is fifth in hitting percentage (.360) and eighth in blocks (30) and blocks per set (1.03).

Temple rounded out their nonconference schedule last week with a 3-2 win over Princeton (14-12) at home and 3-1 and 3-0 victories over Saint Francis (5-6) and Sacred Heart (1-9) on the road.

Temple's defense has held opposing offenses to a .134 hitting percentage, the ninth-lowest mark in the country. The offense flows through outside hitter Taylor Davenport, who ranks top-three in the conference in kills (164), kills per set (4.32), points (193), points per set (5.08) and attacks per set (10.58).

The Hurricane will take on Rice—a new member of The American—for the first time since 2013, when Tulsa and Rice were rivals in C-USA. This weekend, TU has a chance to tie up the overall series, which the Owls lead 20-18.

Rice went 6-4 in nonconference action. Last week, the Owls went 2-1, with a 3-0 loss to No. 6 Texas (5-3) and back-to-back wins at home over Long Island (1-12) and Kansas State (6-3).

Receiving votes in the latest AVCA coaches' poll, Rice is the nation's leader in digs per set (18.59). They also rank top-three in the conference in blocks per set 2.68, opponent hitting percentage (.145) and attacks per set (36.62).

Libero Nia McCardell leads the Owls' tough defense with 5.26 digs per set, while Kaitlyn Knobbe (1.12 blocks per set) and Satasha Kostelecky (0.97) fortify the front row.

Tulsa Volleyball Opens Conference Action Against Temple and Rice

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Players Mentioned

Kayley Cassaday

Avery Kalsu

Camryn Lingenbrink

Marta Pecalli