University of Houston
4-2,0-0Big 12
Kentucky
2-3,0-0SEC
#21 Volleyball Drops Close Match to #19 Kentucky
9/8/2023 6:32:00 PM | Volleyball
Cougars hit .260 and post nine blocks against 19th-ranked Wildcats; Tullos breaks Houston’s career sets played record
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The #21 University of Houston Volleyball team kept it close throughout but couldn't overcome a few runs from #19 Kentucky in a 3-1 loss on Friday afternoon at Hollaway Gymnasium.
The loss marked the first time the Cougars (4-2) lost back-to-back matches in the same season since the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season. The Wildcats (2-3) earned their first ranked win of the year with three players posting double-digit kills.
Graduate Kenna Sauer paced the match with 17 kills and a .429 hitting efficiency, her second 15+ kill performance this season. Graduate Abbie Jackson tallied her 36th career double-double behind 13 kills and a team-best 15 digs, while junior Kellen Morin continued her success with five blocks. She's posted five-or-more in all but one match this season.
Houston's hitting percentage of .260 in the match was the highest in a loss since hitting .263 in a four-set loss to Temple on April 2, 2021. The Cougars also out-blocked Kentucky, 9.0-7.0, it's fourth time this season with more denials than its opponent.
SET ONE
While Kentucky and Houston traded the opening points, an 8-1 run gave the Wildcats an 11-4 advantage after 15 serves. The Cougars posted a 4-0 run started after a block by graduates Nena Mbonu and Rachel Tullos to cut the gap to 11-8, but Kentucky fought back with a 4-0 run of its own to reestablish a seven-point lead. Houston nearly closed the gap, coming as close as three, but the Wildcats held off the Cougars to claim the set, 25-21.
SET TWO
Houston kept its momentum from the end of the first set, jumping to an early 7-3 lead. The teams traded points after, but at 15-11, the Cougars rattled off a 4-0 run to extend their lead to eight and withstood a 4-0 run later by the Wildcats to take the frame, 25-18.
Houston hit .478 in the set, powered by a 4-0-7 (.571) mark from Sauer and a 5-1-7 (.571) mark from Jackson. The Cougars defense also stepped up, tallying four blocks and 11 digs.
With her start in the second set, Tullos played in her 479th career set, surpassing the previous record of 478 sets by Olivia O'Dell (2012-15).
SET THREE
The teams fought back and forth early in the third set, but Kentucky went on a 3-0 run to take a 10-7 lead. Another stalemate ensued, but the Wildcats again broke it with a 6-1 stretch to move to 24-16. While Houston snapped the run with a Jackson kill, Kentucky finished the set on the next serve to win, 25-17.
SET FOUR
While the Cougars won the first two points, Kentucky seized the lead with four straight points to take the lead. Houston tied it at 4-4, but a 5-0 run allowed the Wildcats to retake the lead. Houston narrowed the deficit to two, but another run by Kentucky pushed its lead to 19-13. The Cougars weren't done yet, going on a 6-1 stretch to get within one, but Kentucky was able to keep its lead and win the set, 25-22, and the match.
UP NEXT
Houston remains in West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday for a battle with SMU in the team's final match of the weekend. The match against the in-state rival is slated for a 3 p.m. CT first serve on BTN+.
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