University of Houston Athletics
Volleyball Opens 29th Season Friday, August 31
8/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2001
UH Volleyball This Week: Cougars Open 2001 At Rice Invitational
The University of Houston women's volleyball team, 21-11 last season and a participant in the NCAA Championship Tournament for a tenth consecutive year, opens its 2001 season on Friday (August 31) as once of five teams in the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational Tournament. The Cougars meet No. 18 ranked Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin, Samford and crosstown rival and tournament host Rice at the Owls' Autry Court on Friday and Saturday. The 2001 campaign marks Houston's 29th season of volleyball since since the awarding of the first scholarship for the sport in 1973.
For 2001: Houston To Have New Look
Just as the new rules will give the game a new look, the graduation of four senior starters will do the same to UH. Note that there is also significant returning experience at some positions and the familiar athleticism of a Bill Walton coached team that has helped the Cougar volleyball program average over 21 wins per year for each of the last seven seasons. There is also excitment in store thanks to a demanding schedule which will include the annual C-USA Tournament to be played at home in Hofheinz Pavilion.
Last Season: Coogs Overcome Adversity To Make Big Dance
Houston jumped out to a 15-3 record to begin the season. The team was motoring along with solid wins over South Florida, Arkansas and Texas, as well as ACC powers North Carolina (the eventual league champion) and Virginia. On October 15, however, the nation's No. 2 player for kills, senior hitter Jennifer Wittenburg, went down with a foot injury that kept her out for almost four weeks. Wittenburg is an impact player who averaged 6.28 kills per game and also rates as one of Conference USA's best for defensive digs (4.24 per game).
Wittenburg's injury forced a dramatic change to UH's successful offensive and defensive schemes and the Cougars had to fight for a 4-3 record without her. She returned to action for the final weekend after almost a month of not playing. At the C-USA Tournament Houston avenged a "Wittenburg-less" loss to DePaul (three games to none) and pushed No. 1 seed South Florida to five games, even outscoring the Bulls for the entire match, 62-56. On the final day of the regular season the Cougars thumped LSU, a team that had reached the championship of the SEC Tournament the week before, a quick three games to none.
Ten NCAA Bids In A Row: Looking To Continue The Streak
The NCAA bid last season marked Houston's 12th consecutive postseason appearance since 1989. Including the 2000 selection, the Cougars have been to 11 NCAA Tournaments in the last 12 years, including the last 10 in a row. Houston is one of only 12 schools in the country that can claim a streak of 10-straight NCAA bids. Even volleyball powers like UCLA, Hawaii, Arizona, Wisconsin, Texas and Pepperdine can't match that feat. In 1990 the Cougars won the NIVC Tournament, which was often referred to as the "Volleyball NIT." In 1994 the team advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAAs and were just a few points away from going to the Final Four.
Winning Edge: Program Owns 19th-Straight Winning Seasons
Houston has gained notoriety with the 12-straight postseason tournament trips, but that streak is only part of the story. There is yet another impressive streak on the line for Cougar volleyball. UH is currently in seventh place on the NCAA's list for consecutive winning seasons. The run is now 19 years-in-a-row, and it's only one winning season removed from the NCAA's best such streak.
Head Coach Bill Walton: UH Mentor Owns 500+ Career Wins
Now in his 21st season as a full-time collegiate head coach, Bill Walton's career has been a steady stream of success. Last season the winningest coach in the history of Cougar volleyball notched his 300th win at Houston in the opening match of the year. With a record of 320-176 (.645) in 15 seasons at the helm of the UH program, he continues to surpass his own school record for coaching victories with every subsequent win. His overall record, including five seasons at Elmhurst College where he won two NCAA Division III National Championships, is now 530-231 (.696).
It's an impressive feat to be sure, but that's not all. With another NCAA bid in 2000 Walton has led a team into national postseason play 17 times, including the current streak of 12-straight postseason trips at UH. His last 10 postseason trips have all been to the NCAA Tournament. In 15 years of service at Houston, the Illinois native has led the Cougars to 11 NCAA Tournament bids overall, including the Elite Eight in 1994 as well as the 1990 NIVC postseason championship. Under Walton's direction, UH has won 20 or more matches 13 times, a Southwest Conference regular season championship and tournament titles in both Conference USA and the SWC. He has twice been named the AVCA's South Regional Coach of the Year.
Good Company: Walton Among Top Active Coaches Bill Walton is one of just six active Division I coaches in the country that has led a team to 12-straight national postseason appearances. Here is that short list of the country's top coaches with an active streak of postseason bids. Coach, School Current Postseason Streak Russ Rose, Penn State 20 straight Kathy Gregory, UC Santa Barbara 20 straight John Dunning, Stanford 16 straight (at Pacific) Brian Gimmillaro, Long Beach State 14 straight Jim Stone, Ohio State 12 straight Bill Walton, Houston 12 straight
Your Host With The Most!: UH Hosts C-USA Tournament
Mark your calendars that from November 15-18, the University of Houston will host the Conference USA volleyball championship tournament at home in Hofheinz Pavilion. The top 12 finishers in the newly-restructured 14-team conference will play the familiar single-elimination format culminating with the televised championship match on Sunday, November 18. The winner of the tournament will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Another Rugged Schedule: R.P.I. May Be Sky-High
Houston routinely plays one of the toughest schedules in the country and this year is no exception. Within the gauntlet 16-game C-USA regular season schedule, the Cougars must play each of the league's three other NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago (South Florida, Louisville and Cincinnati) on the road. East Carolina and TCU are on the schedule as new members in C-USA volleyball. UH also has a host of rugged non-conference challenges. The most eye-opening foe is 2001 Final Four participant Hawaii, who the Cougars will meet in Hofheinz Pavilion on October 3. Houston will also face NCAA Tournament teams Texas A&M (twice), Florida, Kansas State and Washington State as well as district-ranked teams UConn, Arkansas, Samford and Montana State. Emotion-charged matches against regional opponents include SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Lamar and crosstown-rival Rice in the annual battle for the "volleyball city championship."
All Set: New Setter Will Run The Offense
A new setter will be running the Cougar offense in 2001. Junior Donna Sellen returns with Division I experience and familiarity in running Bill Walton's system. In addition to passing out 125 assists in a supporting role last season, Sellen was in fact the starting setter on opening day. New to the team is freshman setter Mirela Vasconcellos. Vasconcellos is an international standout from Brazil who played club volleyball for Asics Metro in Clarksville, Maryland.
Sixth-Year Senior: Jennifer Wittenburg Returns
Perhaps some of the biggest news the UH Athletic Department received late last spring was that outside hitter Jennifer Wittenburg had been granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA. The Houston native was one of the dominating players in the country last season, averaging over 6.16 kills and 4.17 defensive digs per game. She was one of only two players in the nation to rank among the NCAA Top 20 in both kills and digs, but a foot injury sidelined her for almost a month. The 6-foot-3 standout from nearby Cy Falls High School has had to endure a host of injuries that have limited her to just 54 matches in five years. Her presence on a young Houston team gives the Cougars experience and a "go to" player for the game's new rally-scoring format. Prior to the 2001 campaign the C-USA head coaches selected Wittenburg to the All-Preseason team.
More Hitters: A Mix Of Newcomers And Experience
Wittenburg is back but Houston enters the season with other players already on the sidelines due to injury. Senior Gabi Carbone had knee surgery in the spring and is expected to miss the early part of the 2001. Without a healthy Carbone, the most-likely remaining position for an experienced player to start is at one of the vacant middle hitter spots. That player will more than likely be junior transfer Jenny Tanneberger, who joined the team after playing two years at the University of Texas.
Tanneberger, Wittenburg and the setter are three resolved starting positions. The other three (an outside, a middle and a rightside hitter) were open heading into fall practice but Walton has multiple options. The versatility of five remaining Cougars on the roster provides different combinations of consistency and chemistry.
Not only does junior Jane Anne Karasek have two years of Division I experience, she could play either outside or middle. She started UH's NCAA Tournament match in California last season and she is versatile enough to be a candidate for multiple-roles in 2001. If needed, sophomore Monica Prince can help the team by moving from her middle blocker spot a year ago to outside hitter. With more experience freshman Loure Dews, an athletic middle from Brazoswood High School, could provide plenty of firepower for years to come. Kristy Nilson is an early candidate for duty on the right side. Nilson is a prep star from Salt Lake City, Utah, who led her high school to the state championship last season. Other candidates may get a look here as well.
The Cougars will have a decidedly new-look in 2001, and there is some more experience and talent on the sidelines working through injuries. The Cougars have an outstanding middle in Amanda Baggett, but the sophomore has battled injuries in each of the last two seasons. Her ability to play at full speed would have a sizable impact on the starting lineup. Freshman Nicole Meusborn is no stranger to playing inside or middle and she may see significant playing time after a standout prep career at nearby Cypress Creek High School. Meusborn is currently sidelined with an ankle injury from the fall drills. Cielisse Schroeder meanwhile is an athletic, local product who is recovering from surgery and will redshirt the 2001 campaign.
Series Records: UH vs. The Four Opening Opponents
* Houston and the LadyJacks of Stephen F. Austin have met 15 times in volleyball with the Cougars holding a 14-1 lead in the all-time series. The last meeting was in 1990 where UH claimed a 3-1 win in Hofheinz Pavilion. Last season SFA won 18 matches and finished fourth in the Southland Conference.
* It's an understatement to say Houston and Texas A&M go way-back in volleyball. Not only were these state rivals playing matches prior to play in the old Southwest Conference, UH and the Aggies began their series before every player on the current Houston roster was even born. The Cougars have played A&M more times than any other opponent and lead the all-time series, 31-29. The Aggies, however, have been steadily closing the gap the last five years. Since 1995 Texas A&M has won each of the last six meetings, including a 3-0 decision in Stockton, California, at the NCAA Tornament season. The Cougars, in fact, haven't won a game from A&M since the championship match of the SWC Tournament in 1994. That also is UH's last match win in the series by a count of three games to none. Only two of the 60 meetings have been played at a site outside the state of Texas. The Aggies debuted in the 2001 preseason polls ranked No. 18.
* There may not be a Bayou Buckett or Silver Glove Trophy on the line, but the volleyball version of the annual battle for the collegiate city championship between crosstown rivals Rice and Houston has provided a number of hard-fought matches dating back to 1974. The Cougars lead the all-time series 51-5 and have won each of the last seven meetings. Four starters return to a Rice team that won 17 matches last season.
* Houston's last match of the tournament will be the first-ever meeting between the Cougars and the Bulldogs of Samford. UH has been a regular traveler to Samford's home of Birmingham, Alabama, since joining Conference USA, but the Cougars have played only UAB in those trips. Samford has all six starters returning from a team that won 14 matches a year ago.
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