Offense Rockets Houston Past UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. – Powered by 21 kills and a .333 hitting efficiency from graduate outside hitter Angela Grieve, the University of Houston Volleyball team posted its highest hitting percentage of the season with four attackers hitting above .400 as the Cougars defeated UCF in four sets inside The Venue on Friday night.

The Cougars (9-10, 4-5 Big 12) recorded a .380 hitting efficiency, tallying 60 kills with only 11 errors, including two sets with a percentage over .400. Led by Grieve, three Houston hitters reached double-figures in kills with senior outside hitter Katie Corelli and redshirt freshman Ashlyn Bellamy both posting 11 each. Redshirt junior middle blocker Barakat Rahmon heavily contributed to the offensive effort, recording Houston's highest individual hitting percentage of the season with an .818 mark via nine kills on 11 attacks.

Graduate libero Kate Georgiades continued her successful final collegiate season, earning her 53^rd career match with 20-or-more digs with 21 in the match to extend her streak of consecutive double-digit efforts to 23. The College Station, Texas, native has surged since the beginning of conference play, averaging 5.39 digs per set against an overall mark of 4.82.

Graduate setter Annie Cooke aided the Cougars on both sides of the ball, tallying 43 assists and five kills while also tallying two blocks. Overall, Rahmon led Houston's blocking effort against UCF (8-9, 1-7 Big 12) with four stuffs.

Houston dominated the opening frame. Jumping out to an early 10-6 edge, Houston hit .435 while siding out on 12 of 13 opportunities to stifle the UCF attack, limiting the Knights to a .033 hitting percentage in the frame. A 6-1 run extended the Cougars' advantage to 19-10, leading to a 25-13 set win for Houston.

The teams traded blows in the second. While UCF would take a 3-1 lead to start the set, the frame would ultimately feature 14 ties and six lead changes. The Cougars used a 3-0 lead to take a 10-7 lead, but the Knights answered with a 3-0 lead of their own to even the score at 13-all. UCF fought to claim a two-point lead at 18-16 that lasted until a 3-0 stretch put Houston back up, 19-18. The Cougars pushed their advantage to three at 23-20, however the Knights rallied with four consecutive points to clinch set point at 24-23. Houston fought off five set points, forcing extras, but UCF ultimately took the frame, 30-28.

The third set remained close early, staying even after 10 serves before a 4-1 stretch gave the Cougars a 9-6 lead. UCF surged to claim a 17-13 lead, but a 4-1 stretch for the Cougars after a Houston timeout retied the score at 19-19. A late 3-0 run sealed the set for Houston, putting the Cougars up by two with a 25-22 set victory.

While the Knights would take the lead by winning the first point in the fourth, Houston won three of the next four to take the lead for good. By the media timeout, Houston held a 15-12 edge which it pushed to 18-12 with kills from Bellamy, Cooke and Rahmon. The Cougars continued to cruise after, claiming the set, 25-17, to earn a 3-1 victory.

NOTABLES
·       Houston's hitting percentage of .380 is the highest for the Cougars since a .394 efficiency against West Virginia on Oct. 6, 2023. It is also Houston's fourth highest mark under Head Coach David Rehr.
·       Grieve tallied her 17^th career double-double, adding 13 digs to her kill total.
·       With 21 kills, Grieve tallied her 15^th career match with 20-plus and 89^th career match with 10-plus kills.
·       Bellamy recorded her second career double-digit kill effort.
·       Corelli tallied her 12^th 10-or-more kill performance of the season and 28^th of her career.

UP NEXT
Houston returns to Fertitta Center on Friday, Nov. 1 for a battle against another long-time league rival Cincinnati. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
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– UHCougars.com –

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Angela Grieve

Katie Corelli

Ashlyn Bellamy

Barakat Rahmon

Players Mentioned

Ashlyn Bellamy

Annie Cooke

Katie Corelli

Kate Georgiades

Angela Grieve

Barakat Rahmon

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