Houston Volleyball Starts Season Ranked at No. 19

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Volleyball team starts its season ranked at No. 19 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association/Taraflex Poll, the organization announced on Tuesday. The placement is Houston's highest preseason ranking in program history, with its other ranking being at No. 25 in 1993.

Head Coach David Rehr's squad will be tested early, starting its season in the Fertitta Center with a ranked matchup against No. 22 USC at 8 p.m., Aug. 25. The team's schedule also includes meetings against other currently ranked foes, including No.1 Texas (Oct. 14, Oct. 15 in the Fertitta Center), No. 10 Kentucky (Sept. 8 in West Lafayette, Ind.), No. 15 Baylor (Nov. 22 in Waco, Texas) and No. 17 BYU (Sept. 20 in Provo, Utah), and four teams that are receiving votes (Kansas, UCF, TCU and Iowa State). The Cougars also have the potential to face off against No. 16 Purdue on Sept. 9. Houston visits #23 Rice for an exhibition match on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Cougars are one of four Big 12 Conference teams to be ranked in the preseason poll and one of two conference newcomers. In total, eight Big 12 teams received votes in the poll. Houston was selected to finish sixth in the conference by the league's coaches.

Houston returns both of its All-Americans from last season in senior libero Kate Georgiades, who also received preseason All-Big 12 honors, and graduate outside hitter Abbie Jackson. The pair are complemented by returning starters Rachel Tullos, Kellen Morin and Morgan Janda, as well as incoming transfers Katie Corelli (Ole Miss), Nena Mbonu (Louisville) and preseason All-Big 12 honoree Kenna Sauer (Texas Tech).

The Cougars finished last season at No. 17 in the AVCA poll, their highest final ranking in team history, joining another No. 17 placement in 1994.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Corelli

Kate Georgiades

Abbie Jackson

Morgan Janda

Nena Mbonu

Kellen Morin

Kenna Sauer

Rachel Tullos

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