University of Houston
SMU
Volleyball Falls to SMU, 3-0, in "Dig Pink" Match
10/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 9, 2009
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston volleyball team lost a three-set match, 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 21-25) to the SMU Mustangs Friday night at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
Senior Kinsey Cave tied for a game-high 13 kills, while freshman Jasmine Terry added 12. Terry's kill total was one shy of tying her career-high. Freshman Tara Roenicke notched a game-high 33 assists and junior Amanda Carson had 28 digs.
Houston put together a late rally that would fall short in the first set after falling behind 21-17 in the final points of set. The Cougars were able to pull within one, 22-21, but despite six kills from Cave the Mustangs came away with the 25-23 win.
The Mustangs took the momentum from holding off a surging Cougar team late in the first set to mount a 17-12 lead into head coach Bill Walton's timeout. UH battled through the rest of the set, pulling within three points, 23-20, but once again SMU would hold off the home team and take a 2-0 lead into the final set.
Once again the Cougars battled from behind in the early going of the third set. After giving up a 7-3 lead to the Mustangs, UH clawed back and tied the set, 7-8. They would go on to take their first lead of the set, since scoring the opening point, with the scoreboard reading 9-8. The lead would be short lived, however, as SMU would regain the lead on the next two points. UH battled the rest of the way, even tying the set, 21-21, but the Mustangs would hold on for the win.
Houston falls to 6-15 on the season and 3-3 in league play. The loss also gives the Cougars a 9-5 record in the all-time series against the Mustangs.
As part of the team's "Dig Pink" event, the Cougars wore pink jerseys that were auctioned off during the match with all of the proceeds going to the Side Out Foundation. Donations were also accepted throughout the evening and fans that donated received a pink t-shirt to commemorate the event.
In between the first and second sets, a signed pink volleyball jersey was presented to representatives from Memorial Hermann Hospital to thank them for their support of the event. The hospital donated the pink jersey that the Cougars wore during the match.
Fans had the option to make a donation based on the total number of digs recorded in the match. The Cougars finished with 59 team digs.
Houston will be back on the court at 1 p.m. on Sunday for a match against Tulsa. Live stats and streaming video will be available for the match by going to the volleyball schedule page at UHCougars.com.
