Houston Closes out Season with Win over SMU

Wednesday, November 21

Houston

1 p.m. CT

University of Houston

17-16, 4-14AAC

SMU

12-16, 9-9AAC

SMU

Houston

Photo by: Wilf Thorne/Wilf Thorne Photography

11/21/2018 4:45:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Cougars comes out victorious on Senior Day

By: Ryan Levine

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Volleyball team ended its 2018 campaign with a 3-1 (25-18, 14-25, 25-22, 25-17) victory over intrastate rival SMU on Wednesday afternoon inside the Athletics/Alumni Center.

With the win, Houston (17-16, 4-14 AAC) head coach Kaddie Platt earned her 200^th career conference victory as a head coach. The victory also gave the Cougars a winning record for the first time since 2015.

HOUSTON 3, SMU 1

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
After the Mustangs (12-16, 9-9 AAC) came out with an early four-point advantage, the Cougars came right back and scored 10 of the next 16 points to knot the score at 10. Once Houston claimed its first lead of the match on the next point, where there was no looking back for the Cougars, as an 8-3 run from Houston put the Cougars in cruise control to their 25-18 set victory.

Set 2
Following another strong start from SMU, Houston was forced to call its first timeout of the frame, trailing by six points. From there, the Mustangs capitalized on their lead, stretching it to as many as 12, which proved to be too much for the Cougars to overcome, as SMU went on to tie the match at 1-1 with its 25-14 set victory.

Set 3
SMU mounted an additional strong start in the third, having built itself a six-point lead at the 10-4 mark. Houston responded right away though, as the Cougars scored 10 of the next 14 points to come all the way back and tie the set at 14 apiece. The two teams battled it out from there, but it was the Cougars who pulled away late, constructing a late, four-point advantage in route to their 25-22 set win.

Set 4
Houston came out firing in the final set, pounding home five consecutive kills to begin the frame, three of which came courtesy of freshman Alexis Cheatum. Once the Mustangs climbed their way back into it and tied the score at eight, four-straight hitting errors from SMU allowed Houston to regain a four-point lead at 12-8. The Cougars went on to score four of the next five points to extend their lead to seven, which turned out to be the difference, as Houston went on to win the set 25-17 and claim the 3-1 match victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

With the victory, Houston head coach Kaddie Platt has 200 career conference wins in her as a head coach.
Houston recorded more kills than SMU in the match, finishing the afternoon with 54 kills compared to the Mustangs' 48. It's the third time in as many contests that Houston has posted more kills than its opponent.
The 81 digs Houston recorded is the second-most in a four-set match this season.
Everyone that recorded an attack for Houston also tallied at least one kill.
The Cougars out-blocked the Mustangs 13.0-3.0. The 13.0 blocks is the most blocks Houston has posted in a four-set match this season.
Senior setter Katie Krebs recorded 19 assists and six digs in her final contest with the Cougars, while senior middle blocker Chenelle Walker tallied five kills and three blocks in her final match.
Junior outside hitter Faith Squier recorded six kills and three blocks, competing in her final match as a Cougar.
Freshman middle blocker Kendall Haywood blocked a career-high nine balls, posting a career-high four solo blocks in the process.

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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 Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.

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