Houston Volleyball Welcomes Temple, UConn
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Season Stats 
| Houston Match Notes
| Gameday Central >> Houston vs. Temple | ||
| Date | Time | Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 6 p.m. | |
| Location | Athletics/Alumni Center Houston, Texas | |
| Coverage | | Live Video  | |
| Gameday Central >> Houston vs. UConn | ||
| Date | Time | Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014 | 1 p.m. | |
| Location | Athletics/Alumni Center Houston, Texas | |
| Coverage | | Live Video | |
| Social Media |    | |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Volleyball team returns home for a two-match homestand this weekend as it hosts two American Athletic Conference opponents.
As a part of the Hike & Spike: Red Out, the Cougars welcome Temple for a Friday at 6 p.m. before the Houston Football game vs. Temple at 8 p.m. Fans who show their football ticket will receive a discount on admission ($4). Houston Athletics' is giving away red pom poms and UH Cougar sunglasses.
On Sunday, Houston hosts UConn for a 1 p.m. The match will serve as Girl Scout Day. Girl Scout troops in attendance will have a chance to talk with associate head coach Jenny Andrew and take a facilities tour. Any Girl Scout troops interested in attending, call Kayla Bosco at 713-743-9452.
TEMPLE OWLS
Temple enters the match off a 1-1 weekend against Cincinnati and Memphis. The Owls swept Cincinnati, 3-0, on Friday and fell to Memphis in four on Sunday.
Sophomore Middle Blocker Kristen Overton is the Owls top hitter this season as she has recorded 153 kills, hitting .405 and put up 51 total blocks. She is No. 4 in the conference for her hitting average, leading Temple to the second best hitting average in the conference.
Series Record: 2-1 (7-6)
Last meeting: Nov. 17, 2013 - UH 3, Temple 1
UCONN HUSKIES
UConn is on a four match losing streak after dropping to both Florida schools, Memphis and Cincinnati. The Huskies enter the weekend 2-4 in conference play but face Tulane on Friday before a match against Houston on Sunday.
The Huskies underwent new leadership as Kris Grunwald was named head coach this season. He arrives in Storrs, Conn., after spending the last two seasons as assistant coach at Auburn.
Junior middle blocker Immanuella Anagu is the Huskies key player this season. She has recorded 179 kills (2.67 kills per set), and 69 blocks.
Series Record: 2-0 (6-2)
Last meeting: Nov. 1, 2013 - UH 3, UConn 0
QUICK HITS
-- Houston Volleyball fell 0-2 this weekend in conference play against in-state rival SMU and C-USA foe Tulsa.
-- Senior outside Kadi Kullerkann recorded her third and fourth consecutive 20-kill match this weekend. She has averaged 4.99 kills per set, moving to fifth in the nation. She has totalled 364 kills so far this season, the fourth most in the nation. She ranks in the top 15 nationally in three categories.
-- Senior libero Natalie Keck led the Cougars with 46 digs on the weekend, tallying her 16th and 17th consecutive double-digit dig matches. She is just 107 digs away from second all-time for career digs. She also ranks top 30 nationally in two categories.
Volleyball National Statistical Rankings | |
Assists Per Set (12.58) | 71st |
Kills Per Set (13.62) | 56th |
Team Assists (1,112) | 46th |
Team Kills (994) | 37th |
LAST TIME OUT
Houston Volleyball went 0-2 once again against American Athletic Conference opponents. The Cougars fall to 9-9 overall, 1-5 in conference - 11th in conference standings.
Houston dropped two sets heading into the half on Friday against SMU. The Cougars rallied with a 25-23 set three win to force a set four. But it wasn't enough as SMU took the fourth and final set, 25-14.
On Sunday, the Cougars traveled to Tulsa for a midday match. Houston dropped the first set to Tulsa but tied the match 1-1 entering halftime with a 29-27 win in set two. From there, Houston took a 2-1 lead over Tulsa with a 25-23 win in set three. The Hurricanes weren't ready to end the match as they tied it 2-2, forcing a decisive fifth set. Both teams battled point-for-point, but Tulsa ended up on top with a 15-12 win.
STAT LEADERS
Houston ranks second in four categories among the American Athletic Conference. In kills per set, the Cougars rank second in the conference and 56th in the nation with 13.62. Senior hitter Kadi Kullerkann leads the Cougars and the league in four of the categories to push Houston ahead of the pack. She is also ranked in the top five in the nation for kills per set (4.99) and total kills (364).
The Cougars also rank second in team total kills (994) and moved up to 37th in the nation.
Defensively, Houston is second in conference for total team digs (1,112). Senior libero Natalie Keck has notched 357 digs so far this season and sits 27th in the nation.
KADI 'KILLER'KANN
Senior outside hitter Kadi Kullerkann put up 43 total kills this weekend, averaging 4.78 kills per set. She now has collected 364 kills through 18 matches and a hitting average of .316. Her total after 18 matches is more than the total kills she notched all last season.
Kullerkann has successfully hit double-digit kills in all 18 matches and tallied 20+ kills in nine matches. Most recently she recorded 20-kill matches in the last four matches. Kullerkann also notched 30+kill matches twice this season.
Kullerkann has made a name for herself in the national rankings and leads every category among the conference.
National Rank | Category | Conference Rank |
5th | Kills Per Set (4.99) | 1st |
12th | Points Per Set (5.27) | 1st |
26th | Total Attacks (811) | 1st |
4th | Total Kills (364) | 1st |
CHART CLIMBERS: Natalie Keck
Senior libero Natalie Keck recorded 46 total digs this weekend averaging 5.11 digs per set. She has notched 357 digs so far this season, adding toward her 1,809-career dig total. The Louisville, Ky., native still stands in sole possession of third place in the school record books and is 107 digs away from jumping Amanda Carson (2007-10) for the second most career digs.
Keck has recorded double-digit digs in 17 consecutive matches this season. She has notched 20 or more digs in 10 of the 17 matches including the last two matches.
Keck has also made a name for herself in the national rankings this season alongside teammate Kullerkann.
National Rank | Category | Conference Rank |
31st | Digs Per Set (4.89) | 2nd |
27th | Total Digs (357) | 2nd |
A LOOK BACK AT 2013
Houston Volleyball entered the 2013 season as inaugural members of the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars were originally picked to finish eighth in the conference, but jumped UConn, Cincinnati and Temple to finish fifth overall. The Cougars wrapped the season with an 18-15 record overall and a 10-8 record, the best record under head coach Kaddie Platt.
Redshirt sophomore (now redshirt junior) Kadi Kullerkann earned second team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
During the 2013 season, the Cougars led the conference in service aces recording 175 (1.41 per set). Defense was key for the Houston Volleyball team as the Cougars allowed only 11.57 kills per set, the third lowest average behind Louisville and SMU.
Houston Volleyball started the season on a good note winning seven of the eight matches played in two tournaments. The Cougars were crowned champions at the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Tournament hosted by University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and junior libero Natalie Keck was named the tournament MVP Libero.
Houston Volleyball began the inaugural conference season with two road wins at Rutgers and UConn, followed by a third win hosting Cincinnati at home.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter @UHCougarVB and "Like" /HoustonCougarVolleyball on Facebook. Houston Volleyball is now on Istagram as well, UHCougarVB.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS
Only seven home games remain for Houston Volleyball. Fans can now purchase single game tickets for just $8 per ticket. To take advantage, CLICK HERE or call 713-GO-COOGS today!
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. To find out more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Price at (713) 743-GOUH
