#20 Volleyball Drops Conference Opener to #10 BYU

Wednesday, September 20

Provo, Utah

8 p.m.

University of Houston

7-3,0-1Big 12

BYU

12-1,1-0Big 12

Houston

BYU

9/20/2023 10:42:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Houston falls in three sets to a top-ten opponent on the road

PROVO, Utah – The #20 University of Houston Volleyball team lost in three sets to #10 BYU in both teams' Big 12 Conference debut on Wednesday night at Smith Fieldhouse.

The match still proved to be record-breaking for graduate Rachel Tullos, who posted her 578^th career block, surpassing Michelle Fraizer, who tallied 577 from 1997-2000, for the top spot on Houston's career total blocks list.

Despite putting up similar kill numbers, as Houston (7-3, 0-1 Big 12) tallied 31 while BYU (12-1, 1-0 Big 12) notched 33, BYU's 12 blocks ultimately helped provide separation between the two teams.

Tullos helped lead the Cougars in the match, posting five kills and only one error while also adding a team-leading two aces and two blocks.

SET ONE
Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage throughout the opening set. Houston jumped out to a 6-3 lead with a 3-0 run and forced an early BYU timeout. BYU closed the gap, tying the match at 12-12 and taking a 20-17 lead later in the frame. Houston battled back, closing the gap at 20-20 and earning the first set point at 24-23. BYU, however, used a 3-0 run to clinch the set, 26-24.

Graduates Kenna Sauer and Abbie Jackson each tallied four kills in the frame, while senior Annie Cooke tallied eight assists and Tullos posted her first ace.

SET TWO
Houston jumped out to another early lead in the second, forcing a BYU timeout after winning four of the first five points. While Houston maintained a lead until 9-8, BYU surged with a 13-0 run to take a 21-9 lead. BYU closed out the set eight serves later, winning 25-13.

SET THREE
BYU continued to own the momentum in the third, winning the first six points of the set. Houston fought back, tying the frame at 9-9, but BYU used a 4-0 run to retake the lead and never ceded it again, earning the sweep, 25-18.

UP NEXT
Houston caps a nine-match road swing with a pair of matches in Lawrence, Kansas against #17 Kansas. The series starts with a 6:30 p.m. match on Sept. 29 then closes with a 3 p.m. tilt on Sept. 30.

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