BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE
The SMU Mustangs and Rice Owls will face off in a pair of matches this weekend in a battle of first place in the West Division and the conference overall. SMU sits at 8-1 in The American and are riding a four-match winning streak, while the Owls are 7-1 and are coming off a loss to Florida Atlantic. The two teams will play on Friday in at 8 p.m. ET and Saturday at 4 p.m. ET in Dallas with both matches airing on ESPN+.
SHOCKERS KEEPING PACE
Wichita State enters the weekend tied for first place overall and first place in the West Division with a 7-1 record. The Shockers have won five straight and 10 out of the last 11 matches. They are undefeated at home in conference action and will look to extend their streak with a pair of matches against Tulsa this weekend.
TIGHT RACE IN THE EAST
East Carolina and South Florida both enter this weekend with a 7-2 record in The American, tied for the best mark in the East Division. The two teams hold a two-game lead over Florida Atlantic for the East. The Pirates will host Memphis on Thursday and Friday, while the Bulls will host North Texas on Friday. All three matches will air on ESPN+.
THE AMERICAN IN THE RPI
Six American Athletic Conference schools currently rank in the Top 100 in the latest RPI rankings. SMU leads the way at 30, followed by Rice (54), Wichita State (60), Tulsa (86), East Carolina (98) and Temple (100).
Wednesday, October 18
Temple 3, Rider 0
Thursday, October 19
Memphis at East Carolina* (ESPN+)_____________ 6 p.m.
Friday, October 20
Memphis at East Carolina* (ESPN+)_____________ 1 p.m.
North Texas at South Florida* (ESPN+)__________ 6 p.m.
Temple at Charlotte* (ESPN+)__________________ 6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at UAB* (ESPN+)________________ 7 p.m.
Tulane at UTSA* (ESPN+)______________________ 7 p.m.
Tulsa at Wichita State (ESPN+)_________________ 8 p.m.
Rice at SMU* (ESPN+)_________________________ 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 21
Florida Atlantic at UAB* (ESPN+)________________ 2 p.m.
Temple at Charlotte* (ESPN+)__________________ 2 p.m.
Tulane at UTSA* (ESPN+)______________________ 3 p.m.
Rice at SMU* (ESPN+)_________________________ 4 p.m.
Tulsa at Wichita State* (ESPN+)________________ 7 p.m.
* denotes American Athletic Conference game
All times ET and subject to change
