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University of Houston Athletics
Volleyball Preps For Final Non-Conference Matches
9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Match Notes 
| TAMUCC Tournament Central
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders Classic - Friday, Sept. 19 | ||
| 3 PM | UT Pan American v. HOUSTON | |
| 7 PM | HOUSTON at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | |
HOUSTON - In the final week leading into American Athletic Conference play, the University of Houston Volleyball team prepares for a road match against UTSA and two tournament games at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Cougars travel to San Antonio, Texas, for a match against UTSA Thursday at 6 p.m.
UTSA enters the match after a 2-6 start to the season. Last weekend, the Roadrunners traveled to the Marquette Invitational where they dropped all three matches to tough opponents.
The Roadrunners are coming off a banner season, as they swept the Conference USA Regular Season and Tournament Championships in their first year in the league.
UTSA finished with a 24-8 overall record and 13-1 mark in C-USA play, which was the best season for 13th-year head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff, who led the Birds to their fourth consecutive 20-win campaign.
The Roadrunners return five of their six starters and their libero from a year ago.
Series Record: 4-2 (14-10)
Last meeting: Sept. 7, 2012 - UTSA 3, Houston 1
Houston Volleyball travels south to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the Islanders Classic hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Cougars open the tournament with a 3 p.m. match against UT-Pan American followed by a match at 7 p.m. facing host Texas A&M-CC.
UT-PAN AMERICAN BRONCOS
The Cougars and Broncos face off for the first time in either programs' history Friday afternoon during the Islanders Classic.
UT-Pan Am enters the tournament 2-8 coming off a win at the LA Tech Invitational against New Orleans. The Broncs return 11 letterwinners this season, only losing one starter from the 2013 season. Junior middle blocker Haley Durham is the Broncs top returner and was recently named to the LA Tech Invitational All-Tournament Team. She has averaged 2.64 kills per set so far this season.
Series Record: 0-0
Last meeting: First Meeting
TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI ISLANDERS
Houston meets Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the first time in school history at the Islanders Classic. The Islanders enter the tournament on a three-game losing streak returning home from the Long Beach State/Loyola Marymount Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was selected to finish third in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll after posting a 13-5 record. The Islanders return seven while welcoming nine new players this season.
Series Record: 0-0
Last meeting: First Meeting
QUICK HITS
- Redshirt junior outside hitter Kadi Kullerkann's 31-kill performance against Sam Houston State is tied for fifth nationally in individual game highs for kills in a five-set match.
- She becomes tied for 10th most kills in a match in school history / is tied for fourth most kills in a five-set match.
- Kullerkann ranks ninth in the nation with 4.76 kills per set, 20th in the nation with 162 kills on the year.
- Senior libero Natalie Keck picked up her fifth 20+dig match against Sam Houston. She now has the fourth most career digs in school history (1,603 digs).
- Keck's 4.76 digs per set average ranks 44th in the nation.
- Freshman setter Keandra McCardell picked up her second double-double of her career Saturday afternoon against Sam Houston. She recorded 59 assists and 12 digs in a five-set win over the Bearkats.
KILLER KULLERKANN
Redshirt junior outside hitter Kadi Kullerkann recorded 31 kills in a five-set win over Sam Houston State. She becomes tied for 10th most kills in a match in school history and is tied for the fourth most kills in a five-set match in school. Her performance was the most kills by a Cougar since Chandace Tryon knocked 27 kills against Appalachian State Aug. 31, 2012.
Kullerkann's 31-kill performance is tied for fifth nationally in individual game highs for kills in a five-set match. She is now ninth in the nation with 4.76 kills per set and ranks 20th in the nation with 162 total kills on the season.
CHART CLIMBERS: Natalie Keck
Senior libero Natalie Keck recorded 48 digs this weekend averaging 4.00 digs per set. She has notched 162 digs so far this season, adding toward her 1,603-career dig total. The Louisville, Ky., native moves to sole possession of fourth place in the school record books and is nine digs away from jumping Kristin Guidish (1995-99) for third most career digs.
In eight of the nine matches this season, Keck has recorded double-digit digs, five of those coming with 20 or more digs.
Keck has averaged 4.76 digs per set and ranks 44th in the nation.
LAST TIME OUT
Houston Volleyball went 2-1 on the weekend as they took second place at the 2014 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup.
The Cougars pounced early and took a 3-1 win (19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23) over Oral Roberts Friday evening. After dropping the first set, 25-19, Houston rallied back to win three straight sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23.
Senior hitter Kadi Kullerkann's 31-kill performance pushed the University of Houston to a five-set win over Sam Houston State in the second game of the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup.
Following the long first match, the Cougars dropped three sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-22) to a fresh Louisiana-Lafayette.
Kullerkann led the team with an outstanding 31-kill match, hitting .459 against the Bearkat defense. Her performance is the 10th most kills in a set in school history and sits fourth all-time for the most kills in a five-set match.
Middle blocker Hunter Wise recorded 19 kills, averaging 2.38 kills per set, hitting .320.
Wise and Kullerkann were selected to the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup All-Tournament Team.STAY CONNECTED
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