The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, September 25
Philadelphia, Pa.
11 a.m.
UAB
at
Temple
Volleyball Preview: Temple/Rice
9/24/2026 3:28:00β―PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM βΒ The UAB volleyball team opens American Conference play this weekend with a pair of road matches, traveling to Philadelphia, Pa., to face Temple at 11 a.m. CT on Friday before heading to Houston, Texas, to take on Rice at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.
TUNE IN TO THE BLAZERS
UAB at Temple
Friday, Sept. 25 (11 a.m. CT)
ESPN+
Watch | Live Stats
UAB at Rice
Sunday, Sept. 27Β (2 p.m. CT)
ESPN+
Watch | Live Stats
VAUGHN LEADING THE ATTACK
Kennedy Vaughn enters conference play as one of UAB's leading offensive threats. The Madison, Ala., nativeΒ recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs against South Alabama and has provided a consistent presence on the attack throughout the season.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB holds a 2-3 all-time record against Temple. The Blazers earned a 3-0 victory in the most recent meeting in Birmingham in 2024, while the Owls won last season's matchup, 3-2, in Philadelphia.
UAB is 8-24 all-time against Rice, including a 5-19 mark in conference play. Rice has won the last 14 meetings between the programs, with UAB's most recent victory coming in a 3-0 decision at the 2013 Conference USA Tournament.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
Temple enters conference play 8-4 overall and has won three straight matches against Princeton, UMBC and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Owls closed non-conference play with a 3-2 comeback victory at FDU on Sept. 23, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to win the final two sets. Temple is 3-1 at home this season.Β Through its first 12 matches, Temple has recorded 585 kills, 540 assists, 68 aces, 674 digs and 93.0 total blocks. The Owls are hitting .197 as a team, while opponents are hitting .171.
Temple has played four five-set matches this season and is coming off its second five-set victory. The Owls defeated Princeton 3-2 on Sept. 18 before sweeping UMBC and beating FDU in five.
Olivia Hummel leads Temple's offensive attack and enters the matchup as one of the Owls' top outside hitters. Hummel recorded 16 kills and 14 digs in Temple's five-set win over FDU on Sept. 23 and has been a consistent offensive contributor throughout the season. Khenedi Guest provides Temple with a strong presence at the net. The middle blocker had 14 kills and seven blocks against FDU and leads the Owls in blocks this season. Guest also brings significant experience to the lineup after transferring from Illinois State, where she led the team in both kills and blocks in 2025.
SCOUTING RICE
Rice enters American Conference play at 6-6 after facing one of the more challenging non-conference schedules in the country. Rice opened the season with five consecutive victories before dropping three of its next four matches. The Owls' most notable result came Sept. 13, when Rice defeated No. 15 Creighton, 3-1, for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2023. The match featured a marathon second set that Rice won 37-35.
Rice closed non-conference play with three consecutive losses against ranked opponents, falling to No. 5 SMU, No. 13 TCU and No. 16 Texas A&M. Against Texas A&M on Sept. 22, the Owls fell 25-22, 25- 12, 25-19. Rice is hitting .212 as a team through 12 matches, while opponents are hitting .246. The Owls have recorded 567 kills, 525 assists, 37 service aces, 630 digs and 105.5 total blocks.
Sydnee Peterson has emerged as one of Rice's leading offensive options. The sophomore outside hitter recorded a team-high 17 kills against No. 13 TCU and posted a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs against Northern Iowa. Kaia Mateo runs the Rice offense from the setter position. The senior has recorded 366 assists through 12 matches, averaging 8.71 assists per set. Mateo also contributed 44 assists in Rice's four-set loss to TCU. Mari Furoyama is a key defensive presence in the back row. The sophomore libero recorded a career-high 24 digs against Northern Iowa and had seven digs against Texas A&M. She was also recognized earlier this season as the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
SPORT GIFT ACCOUNTS
As UAB student-athletes begin a new year of competition, support through sport-specific gift accounts continues to play a vital role in the department's mission toΒ Win Championships, Graduate with Honors and Make a Difference. Contributions provide essential resources in key areas such as recruiting, nutrition, student-athlete development and technology, helping equip Blazer teams for success in the American Conference. To learn more about supporting your favorite program,Β click hereΒ or contact Blazer Boosters to help fuel the continued success of UAB Athletics.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERSΒ
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow @UAB_VB on X and Instagram.
TUNE IN TO THE BLAZERS
UAB at Temple
Friday, Sept. 25 (11 a.m. CT)
ESPN+
Watch | Live Stats
UAB at Rice
Sunday, Sept. 27Β (2 p.m. CT)
ESPN+
Watch | Live Stats
VAUGHN LEADING THE ATTACK
Kennedy Vaughn enters conference play as one of UAB's leading offensive threats. The Madison, Ala., nativeΒ recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs against South Alabama and has provided a consistent presence on the attack throughout the season.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB holds a 2-3 all-time record against Temple. The Blazers earned a 3-0 victory in the most recent meeting in Birmingham in 2024, while the Owls won last season's matchup, 3-2, in Philadelphia.
UAB is 8-24 all-time against Rice, including a 5-19 mark in conference play. Rice has won the last 14 meetings between the programs, with UAB's most recent victory coming in a 3-0 decision at the 2013 Conference USA Tournament.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
Temple enters conference play 8-4 overall and has won three straight matches against Princeton, UMBC and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Owls closed non-conference play with a 3-2 comeback victory at FDU on Sept. 23, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to win the final two sets. Temple is 3-1 at home this season.Β Through its first 12 matches, Temple has recorded 585 kills, 540 assists, 68 aces, 674 digs and 93.0 total blocks. The Owls are hitting .197 as a team, while opponents are hitting .171.
Temple has played four five-set matches this season and is coming off its second five-set victory. The Owls defeated Princeton 3-2 on Sept. 18 before sweeping UMBC and beating FDU in five.
Olivia Hummel leads Temple's offensive attack and enters the matchup as one of the Owls' top outside hitters. Hummel recorded 16 kills and 14 digs in Temple's five-set win over FDU on Sept. 23 and has been a consistent offensive contributor throughout the season. Khenedi Guest provides Temple with a strong presence at the net. The middle blocker had 14 kills and seven blocks against FDU and leads the Owls in blocks this season. Guest also brings significant experience to the lineup after transferring from Illinois State, where she led the team in both kills and blocks in 2025.
SCOUTING RICE
Rice enters American Conference play at 6-6 after facing one of the more challenging non-conference schedules in the country. Rice opened the season with five consecutive victories before dropping three of its next four matches. The Owls' most notable result came Sept. 13, when Rice defeated No. 15 Creighton, 3-1, for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2023. The match featured a marathon second set that Rice won 37-35.
Rice closed non-conference play with three consecutive losses against ranked opponents, falling to No. 5 SMU, No. 13 TCU and No. 16 Texas A&M. Against Texas A&M on Sept. 22, the Owls fell 25-22, 25- 12, 25-19. Rice is hitting .212 as a team through 12 matches, while opponents are hitting .246. The Owls have recorded 567 kills, 525 assists, 37 service aces, 630 digs and 105.5 total blocks.
Sydnee Peterson has emerged as one of Rice's leading offensive options. The sophomore outside hitter recorded a team-high 17 kills against No. 13 TCU and posted a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs against Northern Iowa. Kaia Mateo runs the Rice offense from the setter position. The senior has recorded 366 assists through 12 matches, averaging 8.71 assists per set. Mateo also contributed 44 assists in Rice's four-set loss to TCU. Mari Furoyama is a key defensive presence in the back row. The sophomore libero recorded a career-high 24 digs against Northern Iowa and had seven digs against Texas A&M. She was also recognized earlier this season as the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
SPORT GIFT ACCOUNTS
As UAB student-athletes begin a new year of competition, support through sport-specific gift accounts continues to play a vital role in the department's mission toΒ Win Championships, Graduate with Honors and Make a Difference. Contributions provide essential resources in key areas such as recruiting, nutrition, student-athlete development and technology, helping equip Blazer teams for success in the American Conference. To learn more about supporting your favorite program,Β click hereΒ or contact Blazer Boosters to help fuel the continued success of UAB Athletics.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERSΒ
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow @UAB_VB on X and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballTuesday, September 22
Sunday, September 20
Wednesday, September 16
Tuesday, September 15
