University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Bonnie Ryan
SEASON RECAP: Volleyball Posts Record Season in 2022
1/7/2023 2:03:00 PM | Volleyball
HOUSTON – The University of Houston volleyball program reached heights not seen by the Cougars in over 25 years during the squad's 2022 campaign. A 30-4 record, including a 19-1 mark in conference play, included 15 sweeps and the team's first win against a ranked opponent since 2003.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Despite suffering a setback in the first match of the year to an eventual NCAA Tournament team in Rice, the Cougars knocked off a pair of 2021 Tournament teams in Mississippi State, who was receiving votes at the time, and South Alabama during an eight-match win streak.
The streak was ultimately snapped in a 3-1 loss to #1 Texas, however the Cougars started a new streak immediately after, closing out non-conference play with a 3-1 win over High Point.
CONFERENCE DOMINATION
In the team's last year in the American Athletic Conference, Houston posted its best record in league play at 19-1 (.950) and clinched a share of The American title. It was the team's first conference championship since a regular-season Conference USA Championship in 1999, sharing the crown with fellow future Big 12 Conference member UCF.
The Cougars, who started a win streak on Sept. 18 against High Point, continued their undefeated streak through the last match of the regular season, winning 20 consecutive matches before a hard-fought, five-set loss to UCF on Nov. 25. The streak broke the previous program best of 17 games in 1994.
Of the Cougars' 19 wins, 11 came via straight-set wins while Houston won 59 of 72 sets overall, earning a set win percentage of .819.
Overall, Houston led The American in four statistical categories: aces per set (1.55), team assists (1,627), team kills (1,759) and team service aces (197). Senior Abbie Jackson led The American in aces per set (0.45) and service aces (57), while junior Kate Georgiades led the league in digs per set (5.41) and total digs (687).
GONE DANCING
The Cougars, having been on the first four out list in 2021, nearly earned a hosting seed in the 2022 Tournament as a five seed. Heading to Omaha, Neb., with a date against South Dakota, the Cougars lived up to the Cardiac Coogs nickname, taking all five sets to dispatch the Coyotes in the first round. Battling Auburn in the second round, it was another five-set affair where Houston emerged victorious, punching the team's ticket to the Sweet Sixteen and the Regional Semifinals.
Houston was the only team in the Sweet Sixteen to be outside the top-16 national seeds entering the Tournament, meaning it was the only squad to be hitting the road for the second time entering regionals weekend.
The Cougars garnered national attention during the opening weekend of the tournament after Georgiades leaped over a table to keep a rally alive, eventually leading to a Houston point during its first-round match against South Dakota. The play, which was picked up by nearly every national sports outlet, also gathered mainstream news attention with placements in the New York Times and NBCLX. On social media, the play was tweeted or retweeted by ESPN, NBC Sports, the Sickos Committee, Nicole Auerbach, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and Sportsnet, among others. It was also the #1 play on SportsCenter that night, leading to an interview with Georgiades leading into the regional semifinals.
IN THE POLLS
The Cougars entered the AVCA Poll on Oct. 17 at #24 after four weeks of receiving votes. It was the first time Houston had been ranked since the final poll in 1994. The Cougars rose as high as #22 and sat at #23 entering the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars ended the year at #17, tied with the 1994 team for the highest final ranking in program history.
NATIONAL PROMINENCE
The Cougars finished in the top 25 in four different statistical categories and in the top 50 in an additional six. Houston finished with the seventh most kills on the season (1,759), eighth best winning percentage in the country (.882) and ninth most assists on the year (1,627).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Cougars finished with a perfect 14-0 record in the Fertitta Center, one of 18 teams to go undefeated in their home arena and one of nine with 14-or-more home wins. The team's 14 match win streak at the Fertitta Center is the 11th longest in the country.
In addition to their winning ways, the team garnered the attention of Houstonians, with the team posting its highest total attendance inside the Fertitta Center as 12,954 fans watched the Cougars at home this season, averaging 925 per match. The team also crushed its single-game attendance record with 1,860 fans entering for the East Carolina match on Oct. 30. The team ultimately replaced all of its top five single-game attendances.
Houston Top Five Attendance
1,860 – East Carolina – Oct. 30, 2022
1,455 – South Florida – Oct. 9, 2022
1,330 – Memphis – Nov. 18, 2022
1,301 – SMU – Nov. 20, 2022
1,174 – UCF – Oct. 7, 2022
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
The Cougars posted 28 double-doubles on the season. Jackson led the way with 12, while senior Morgan Janda and junior Annie Cooke both had six and Georgiades, senior Rachel Tullos, graduate Isabel Theut and graduate Kennedy Warren all notched one.
Over their career, Jackson has posted 33 double-doubles, leading those who have played their entire career at Houston, while Janda has tallied 37.
CARDIAC COOGS
While the team posted 15 straight-set wins during the year, they were no stranger to five-set marathons. However, the Cougars made a reputation early in the year for being untouchable in these long matches, posting three consecutive five-set wins against Oregon State, South Alabama and Mississippi State. The Cougars ended with a 7-1 record in matches that went the distance, including a pair of wins in the NCAA Tournament.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
The Cougars posted a second consecutive 25-win season for the first time since 1979-80, prior to the NCAA's addition of women's volleyball when teams regularly played nearly twice as many matches as they do now. The back-to-back 20-win seasons are the program's first since 1999-2000.
RECORD BOOK UPDATES
Kate Georgiades
Rachel Tullos
Annie Cooke
Team
Kate Georgiades
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. For more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, fans can click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Despite suffering a setback in the first match of the year to an eventual NCAA Tournament team in Rice, the Cougars knocked off a pair of 2021 Tournament teams in Mississippi State, who was receiving votes at the time, and South Alabama during an eight-match win streak.
The streak was ultimately snapped in a 3-1 loss to #1 Texas, however the Cougars started a new streak immediately after, closing out non-conference play with a 3-1 win over High Point.
CONFERENCE DOMINATION
In the team's last year in the American Athletic Conference, Houston posted its best record in league play at 19-1 (.950) and clinched a share of The American title. It was the team's first conference championship since a regular-season Conference USA Championship in 1999, sharing the crown with fellow future Big 12 Conference member UCF.
The Cougars, who started a win streak on Sept. 18 against High Point, continued their undefeated streak through the last match of the regular season, winning 20 consecutive matches before a hard-fought, five-set loss to UCF on Nov. 25. The streak broke the previous program best of 17 games in 1994.
Of the Cougars' 19 wins, 11 came via straight-set wins while Houston won 59 of 72 sets overall, earning a set win percentage of .819.
Overall, Houston led The American in four statistical categories: aces per set (1.55), team assists (1,627), team kills (1,759) and team service aces (197). Senior Abbie Jackson led The American in aces per set (0.45) and service aces (57), while junior Kate Georgiades led the league in digs per set (5.41) and total digs (687).
GONE DANCING
The Cougars, having been on the first four out list in 2021, nearly earned a hosting seed in the 2022 Tournament as a five seed. Heading to Omaha, Neb., with a date against South Dakota, the Cougars lived up to the Cardiac Coogs nickname, taking all five sets to dispatch the Coyotes in the first round. Battling Auburn in the second round, it was another five-set affair where Houston emerged victorious, punching the team's ticket to the Sweet Sixteen and the Regional Semifinals.
Houston was the only team in the Sweet Sixteen to be outside the top-16 national seeds entering the Tournament, meaning it was the only squad to be hitting the road for the second time entering regionals weekend.
The Cougars garnered national attention during the opening weekend of the tournament after Georgiades leaped over a table to keep a rally alive, eventually leading to a Houston point during its first-round match against South Dakota. The play, which was picked up by nearly every national sports outlet, also gathered mainstream news attention with placements in the New York Times and NBCLX. On social media, the play was tweeted or retweeted by ESPN, NBC Sports, the Sickos Committee, Nicole Auerbach, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and Sportsnet, among others. It was also the #1 play on SportsCenter that night, leading to an interview with Georgiades leading into the regional semifinals.
IN THE POLLS
The Cougars entered the AVCA Poll on Oct. 17 at #24 after four weeks of receiving votes. It was the first time Houston had been ranked since the final poll in 1994. The Cougars rose as high as #22 and sat at #23 entering the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars ended the year at #17, tied with the 1994 team for the highest final ranking in program history.
NATIONAL PROMINENCE
The Cougars finished in the top 25 in four different statistical categories and in the top 50 in an additional six. Houston finished with the seventh most kills on the season (1,759), eighth best winning percentage in the country (.882) and ninth most assists on the year (1,627).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Cougars finished with a perfect 14-0 record in the Fertitta Center, one of 18 teams to go undefeated in their home arena and one of nine with 14-or-more home wins. The team's 14 match win streak at the Fertitta Center is the 11th longest in the country.
In addition to their winning ways, the team garnered the attention of Houstonians, with the team posting its highest total attendance inside the Fertitta Center as 12,954 fans watched the Cougars at home this season, averaging 925 per match. The team also crushed its single-game attendance record with 1,860 fans entering for the East Carolina match on Oct. 30. The team ultimately replaced all of its top five single-game attendances.
Houston Top Five Attendance
1,860 – East Carolina – Oct. 30, 2022
1,455 – South Florida – Oct. 9, 2022
1,330 – Memphis – Nov. 18, 2022
1,301 – SMU – Nov. 20, 2022
1,174 – UCF – Oct. 7, 2022
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
The Cougars posted 28 double-doubles on the season. Jackson led the way with 12, while senior Morgan Janda and junior Annie Cooke both had six and Georgiades, senior Rachel Tullos, graduate Isabel Theut and graduate Kennedy Warren all notched one.
Over their career, Jackson has posted 33 double-doubles, leading those who have played their entire career at Houston, while Janda has tallied 37.
CARDIAC COOGS
While the team posted 15 straight-set wins during the year, they were no stranger to five-set marathons. However, the Cougars made a reputation early in the year for being untouchable in these long matches, posting three consecutive five-set wins against Oregon State, South Alabama and Mississippi State. The Cougars ended with a 7-1 record in matches that went the distance, including a pair of wins in the NCAA Tournament.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
The Cougars posted a second consecutive 25-win season for the first time since 1979-80, prior to the NCAA's addition of women's volleyball when teams regularly played nearly twice as many matches as they do now. The back-to-back 20-win seasons are the program's first since 1999-2000.
RECORD BOOK UPDATES
Kate Georgiades
- Single-Game
- Houston Record Holder in Digs in a Three-Set Match (34 at Tulsa, Nov. 11)
- American Athletic Conference Record Holder in Digs in a Three-Set Match (34 at Tulsa, Nov. 11)
- Tied for second in Houston Service Aces in a Four-Set Match (6 vs. Cincinnati, Sept. 25)
- Tied for third in American Athletic Conference Service Aces in a Four-Set Match (6 vs. Cincinnati, Sept. 25)
- Tied for fourth in Houston Single-Match Service Aces (6 vs. Cincinnati, Sept. 25)
- Tied for fourth in Houston Digs in a Three-Set Match (27 at Memphis, Oct. 16)
- Single-Season
- Fourth in Houston Single-Season Digs per Set (5.41)
- Fifth in Houston Single-Season Libero Era Digs (687)
- Career
- Houston Record Holder in Career Digs per Set (5.40)
- Second in American Athletic Conference Career Digs per Set (5.40)
- Ninth in Houston Career Digs (1,350)
- Single-Match
- Tied for first in Houston Service Aces in a Three-Set Match (6 at East Carolina, Sept. 30)
- Tied for fourth in Houston Single-Match Service Aces (6 at East Carolina, Sept. 30)
- Tied for fifth in American Athletic Conference Service Aces in a Three-Set Match (6 at East Carolina, Sept. 30)
- Single-Season
- Second in American Athletic Conference Single-Season Service Aces (57)
- Third in American Athletic Conference Single-Season Service Aces per Set (0.45)
- Tied for third in Houston Single-Season Service Aces (57)
- Career
- Houston Career Record Holder in Service Aces (153)
- American Athletic Conference Career Record Holder in Service Aces (153)
- Second in Houston Career Kills (1,604)
- Second in Houston Career Attack Attempts (4,861)
- Third in American Athletic Conference Career Kills (1,604)
- Third in American Athletic Conference Career Points (1,864)
- Fourth in Houston Career Attack Attempts per Set (11.46)
- Fourth in American Athletic Conference Career Service Aces per Set (0.37)
- Tied for sixth in Houston Career Service Aces Per Set (0.37)
- Seventh in Houston Career Kills Per Set (3.78)
Rachel Tullos
- Single-Match
- Tied for second in Houston Total Blocks in a Four-Set Match (12 vs. South Florida, Oct. 9)
- Tied for fourth in Houston Total Blocks in a Five-Set Match (12 vs. South Alabama, Sept. 9)
- Tied for fifth in Houston Single-Match Block Assists (12 vs. South Florida, Oct. 9)
- Tied for fourth in American Athletic Conference Total Blocks in a Four-Set Match (12 vs. South Florida, Oct. 9)
- Career
- Second in Houston Career Total Blocks (554)
- Second in Houston Career Solo Blocks (131)
- Third in Houston Career Block Assists (423)
- Third in American Athletic Conference Career Total Blocks (554)
- Third in American Athletic Conference Career Blocks per Set (1.20)
- Fifth in Houston Career Total Blocks per Set (1.20)
- Ninth in Houston Career Sets Played (462)
- Career
- Tied for seventh in Houston Career Sets Played (463)
- Eighth in Houston Career Hitting Percentage (.272)
Annie Cooke
- Career
- Eighth in Houston Career Assists (2,620)
Team
- Single-Match
- Tied for first in Houston Assists in a Three-Set Match (53 vs. Tulsa, Nov. 11)
- Single-Season
- Third in Houston Single-Season Hitting Percentage (.249)
- American Athletic Conference Record Holder in Single-Season Wins (30)
- Fourth in American Athletic Conference Single-Season Win Streak (20)
- Fourth in American Athletic Conference Single-Season Total Kills (1,759)
- Fifth in American Athletic Conference Single-Season Service Aces (197)
Kate Georgiades
- Six-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 30, Sept. 26, Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 15, Nov. 22)
- Unanimous American Athletic Conference Libero of the Year
- Unanimous All-American Athletic Conference First Team
- AVCA All-Southeast Region Team
- AVCA All-American Honorable Mention
- VolleyballMag.com All-American Fourth Team
- College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team
- All-American Athletic Conference First Team
- AVCA All-Southeast Region Team
- AVCA All-American Honorable Mention
- VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention
- College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team
- Two-time American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 12, Oct. 11)
- All-American Athletic Conference First Team
- Two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 11, Nov. 8)
- All-American Athletic Conference Second Team
- College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team
- College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team
- American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
- AVCA All-Southeast Region Coach of the Year
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. For more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, fans can click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballHIGHLIGHTS: Houston 3, Texas Tech 1
Sunday, September 28
Houston at Big 12 Media Days
Thursday, August 07
Cougars All-Access: Barakat Rahmon (VB)
Tuesday, November 19
Cougars All-Access: Kate Georgiades (VB)
Wednesday, October 02