HOUSTON, Texas – HCU takes on cross-town rival Rice in game one of the Rice Invitational at Tudor Fieldhouse on Friday before closing out the tournament against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.

The Huskies (4-3) are coming off a 4-0 sweep in the Molly Howard-Gerwig Memorial Tournament taking down PVAMU, Penn, Arkansas State, and UTRGV in Sharp Gym last weekend.

The Huskies are led by reigning Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week junior Audrey Pearce who is coming off a career-high 10 blocks against Arkansas State and ranks seventh nationally with 37 blocks on the season. Last week's Southland Conference Setter of the Week, sophomore Grace McLaughlin is averaging 8.45 assists per set on the year along with 2.35 digs per set. Sophomore Cassidy Drapela leads HCU averaging 2.89 kills per set to start the season. Senior Kaley Feris continues to lead the Huskies back line averaging 4.29 digs per set. The Huskies currently rank 8^th in the nation as a team averaging 17.54 digs per set.

Rice (2-3) is led by Danyle Courtley with 54 kills on the season while Emilia Weske adds 44 kills to the Owl's offense. Darby Harris has dished out 72 assists along with 42 digs. Rice is led defensively by Nia McCardell with 88 digs.

FGCU (4-2) is led by Shelby Kent with 63 kills on the year along with 40 digs. Lily Tessier has recorded 194 assists, 50 digs, and 17 blocks this season. The Eagles back line is led by Reese Burry with 53 digs.

The Huskies take on Rice on Friday, Sept. 8^th at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The matchup against FGCU on Sunday, Sep. 10^th at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at HCUHuskies.com.

HCU will continue its road trip to the Tulane Invitational taking on Clemson, UTEP, and Tulane on Thursday, Sep. 14^th through Saturday, Sep. 16^th in New Orleans at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.