Last year, the Owls defeated then-No. 13 Xavier. This year, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to beat ranked opponents with games against the likes of Auburn, Rutgers, Duke and Xavier both on the road and at home.
The Owls do not have a Top 25 preseason rank, but they do have a high Strength of Schedule. Temple plays four preseason-ranked opponents this season with three of the four coming at home at the Liacouras Center.
With junior outside hitter Yun Yi Zhang battling an ankle injury and playing a reduced role, junior middle back Jessica Antosz responded with a game-high 14 kills to help the Owls beat Rhode Island, 3-1.