PREVIEW: Houston Volleyball Hosts Tulane Wednesday
11/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
| Gameday Central >> Houston vs. Tulane | ||
| Date | Time | Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014 | 7 p.m. | |
| Location | Athletics/Alumni Center Houston, Texas | |
| Coverage | | Live Video  | |
HOUSTON - In the final match of a three-match homestand, the University of Houston Volleyball team hosts travel partner Tulane for a midweek match on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.
Wednesday night's game will serve as the UH faculty, staff and student appreciation night. The first 200 students to the match will receive a free pair of UH shades. Also, any faculty or staff member who shows their ID at the door will receive a discounted admission of $4.
The Cougars enter the match off a two-game loss last weekend against Tulsa and in-state rival SMU. Senior libero Natalie Keck recorded her 13th 20-dig performance against SMU Sunday and moved up to second in school history for career digs (1,931). She is only 69 digs away from 2,000.
Senior outside hitter Kadi Kullerkann recorded her 23rd and 24th consecutive double-digit kill performances against the two opponents.
TULANE GREEN WAVE
Houston welcomes travel partner Tulane for a midweek match this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Tulane enters the match on a five-match losing streak, being swept by Temple, Tulsa, SMU, UCF and USF. During the first round of conference play, Tulane took the first meeting of the season in New Orleans, La., in five sets.
Top players for the Waves are freshman right side Sarah Ray and sophomore outside Tea Juric. Ray is an all around player as she leads the team in kills (259, averaging 3.05 per set) and digs (206, averaging 2.42 per set). Juric returns for the Waves and was named to The American preseason team. She is second on the team with 228 kills (3.04 per set)and 204 digs (2.72 per set).
Series Record: 27-11 (88-50)
Last meeting: Oct. 1, 2014 - Tulane 3, UH 1
STAT LEADERS
Houston ranks second in three categories among the American Athletic Conference. In team kills, Houston ranks second in the conference and 44th in the nation with 1,289 total kills. 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 (5.16), total kills (495) and points per set (5.52).
Defensively, Houston is second in conference for total team digs (1,487). Senior libero Natalie Keck has notched 479 digs so far this season and sits 25th in the nation.
KADI `KILLER'KANN
Senior outside hitter Kadi Kullerkann put up 40 total kills this weekend, averaging 5.71 kills per set. She now has collected 495 kills through 24 matches and a hitting average of .302.
Kullerkann has successfully hit double-digit kills in all 24 matches and tallied 20+ kills in 13 matches. Most recently she recorded 20-kill matches in eight of the last 10 matches, the last coming in a four-set match against Tulsa at home (25 kills). 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 |
23rd | Attacks Per Set (11.68) | 2nd |
5th | Kills Per Set (5.16) | 1st |
5th | Points Per Set (5.52) | 1st |
15th | Total Attacks (1,121) | 1st |
3rd | Total Kills (495) | 1st |
In her final season as a Cougar, Kullerkann has made her way into the Houston Volleyball record books.
SINGLE SEASON | ||
4th | Kills Per Set | 5.16 |
t-8th | Hitting Percentage | .302 |
CAREER | ||
9th | Kills Per Set | 3.38 |
10th | Hitting Percentage | .251 |
CHART CLIMBERS: Natalie Keck
Senior libero Natalie Keck recorded 35 total digs this weekend averaging 5.00 digs per set. She has notched 479 digs so far this season, adding toward her 1,931-career dig total. Three of the four seasons she has made the top 10 single-season list for digs. The Louisville, Ky., native moved into second place in the school record books for career digs jumping Amanda Carson (2007-10). Keck is only 69 digs away from reaching her 2,000th career dig.
Keck has recorded double-digit digs in all but two matches this season. She had a 19-match streak of double-digit digs before the UCF game on Friday (Oct. 24) where she was one shy of double-digits. Keck has notched 20 or more digs in 13 of the 22 matches including four consecutive matches spanning Oct. 10-19.
Keck has also made a name for herself in the national rankings this season alongside teammate Kullerkann.
National Rank | Category | Conference Rank |
35th | Digs Per Set (4.99) | 2nd |
25th | Total Digs (479) | 2nd |
Keck has always been a front runner in the Houston Volleyball record books and in just five weeks, her career at UH will come to an end.
SINGLE SEASON | ||
t-10th | Digs | 479 |
10th | Digs Per Set | 4.99 |
CAREER | ||
2nd | Digs | 1,931 |
2nd | Digs Per Set | 4.42 |
STAY CONNECTED
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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
