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University of Houston
UAB
Volleyball Wins Five-Set Thriller Over UAB, 3-2
11/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 9, 2008
HOUSTON - Three Cougars recorded double-doubles as the University of Houston volleyball team won a five-set thriller, 3-2 (29-27, 13-25, 22-25, 29-27, 15-4), over UAB Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Alumni Center.
Senior Justine Farmer recorded a game-high 26 kills, along with 15 digs for her 10th double-double this season. Senior Kelsey King added 47 assists and 12 digs, while freshman Nataliya Panova came off the bench to notch 17 kills and 14 digs.
King's double-double was her 11th this season and Panova recorded a career-high in kills to give her the second double-double of her career.
Houston improves to 17-11 this season and 9-6 in Conference USA. The Blazers fall to 22-5 and 12-3.
In the first set, the Cougars put together a 7-1 run early in the match to go ahead, 11-7, forcing UAB to call its first timeout. But, the Blazers came out of the break scoring the next three points to pull within one, 11-10. With UAB down two, 13-11, the Blazers managed to put together a 5-0 run to take back the lead, 16-13, prompting head coach Bill Walton to call a timeout of his own. Houston came off the bench to play a tight match with the Blazers before tying the set, 21-21 and eventually regaining the lead, 24-23.
Looking to change momentum in the set, UAB called its second timeout. The two teams traded points before Houston managed to pull out the 29-27 win. Senior Justine Farmer recorded five of the Cougars last six kills out of the second UAB timeout to guide the Cougars to the win.
The Blazers opened the second set scoring four of the first five points to jump out to a 4-1 lead. UAB continued to control the game, taking an 8-5 lead. Houston scored the next point, but UAB outscored the Cougars 17 to eight to hold out for the 25-13 second set win.
Once again, the Blazers opened the third set strong, scoring four-straight points to open play, 4-0. But Houston wasn't about to give up as they tied the score, 9-9, before taking its first lead, 10-9 on a kill from freshman Nataliya Panova. The Blazers would quickly take back the lead scoring the next three points. They would extend that lead to 15-11 before a Cougar timeout. UAB would maintain their lead out of the break and when it looked as if the Blazers would win the third set, Houston put together a 4-0 to tie the set, 20-20.
But the Blazers would hold off the Cougars to take the 25-22 win and move ahead 2-1 in the match.
In the third set, Houston scored the first point of the set but gave up the lead to the Blazers early with the scoreboard reading 4-3. It was all Blazers until the Cougars battled back to within one, 10-9. Houston would then tie the set twice before UAB was able to pull ahead, 18-14. And once again the Cougars wouldn't give up as they chipped away at the deficit once more to tie the set, 22-22. They would go on to win the set, 29-27.
The 29 points the Cougars scored in the second and fourth set are the most this season in a single set and the most since the winning score was reduced to 25 at the start of the season.
The Cougars forced a fifth set for just the eighth time this season with the win. And they opened the fifth set strong, leading 8-3 when the two teams switched sides. They would carry the momentum through the rest of the set, holding on for the 15-4 win.
Houston is now 4-4 this season in five-set matches.
UP NEXT
Houston will close out the conference season with a 7 p.m. match against Rice on Nov. 13. Prior to the start of the match the team will honor its three seniors, Justine Farmer, Barbara Freitas and Kelsey King.
The Cougars will also participate in the Conference USA Championships on Nov. 20-23 in Memphis, Tenn. The 2008 season will conclude on Nov. 29 when UH will host TCU in a 7 p.m. match at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
