Houston Sets Eyes on Postseason NIVC

HOUSTON – After accepting its first postseason invitation in 19 years, the University of Houston Volleyball team travels to Arlington, Texas, to face Sam Houston State in the opening round of the Postseason National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Hosted by UT Arlington, Houston's region in the NIVC is rounded out with UT Arlington and UTSA.

The last time Houston made a postseason berth beyond the conference tournament was in 2000, when the Cougars earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Houston enters the NIVC with a 16-16 mark after posting a 10-6 record in American Athletic Conference play, the program's most conference wins since 2013.

The 2019 NIVC field is comprised of 32 teams, taking place across eight locations at the site of the different host schools. The five-round event is a single-elimination format.

Houston is one of three teams from the league to participate in the NIVC, joining Tulane and Tulsa, while UCF and Cincinnati will compete in the NCAA Tournament.

TIME (CT)	THURSDAY, Dec. 5	COVERAGE
5 p.m.	Houston vs. Sam Houston State	Live Stats \| Watch
TIME (CT)	FRIDAY, Dec. 6	COVERAGE
6:30 p.m.	Houston vs. UT Arlington/UTSA	Live Stats \| Watch

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

When Houston head coach David Rehr was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, he became just the fourth head coach in program history and first since Bill Walton in 1994 to receive the honor. Rehr's accolade also marks the first time in the conference's history that a first-year head coach has earned the title.
The Cougars began American Athletic Conference play 7-0 for the first time since 2000, before dropping its battle with Cincinnati, to move to 7-1 in conference action, matching their best eight-match start in conference since that same 2000 season.
Houston was the only school in The American to have more than two players win a Player of the Week honor, having won four. This is the first time in program history Houston has had four different players earn a conference Player of the Week (Abbie Jackson, OPOW-9/9; Katie Karbo, DPOW-9/23; Megan Duncan, OPOW-9/30; Rachel Tullos, DPOW-10/21) honor.
As one of the best liberos in the country, Karbo continues to rewrite the records book, having already made history this year. Aside from her entering the weekend ranking fifth in the nation with 696 digs, Karbo also leads all Division I active players with her 2,415 career digs, which is a conference record she set against SMU (11/17).
Against one of the most potent offenses in the country, Tullos put together a performance for the ages when she posted a conference record 17 blocks in the five-set thriller against Cincinnati (10/20). Her 17 stops at the net were also the most blocks in a single match by a Division I player this season. Overall, Tullos enters the weekend tied for second in the nation with 180 blocks on the year. She leads the country with 59 solo rejections.

STAY CONNECTED
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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.

– UHCougars.com –

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Megan Duncan

Abbie Jackson

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