Morin Posts 10 Blocks Against UCF

HOUSTON – Behind redshirt senior Kellen Morin's first career double-digit block performance, Houston Volleyball tallied its most blocks since 2022, but it was not enough as the Cougars fell in a five-set heartbreaker to UCF on Wednesday night at Fertitta Center.

Morin's 10 blocks were Houston's first double-digit performance in the category since Barakat Rahmon recorded 10 against Cincinnati on Nov. 1, 2024. The Cougars stuffed UCF 16 times in the match, their most since also tallying 16 against South Alabama on Sept. 9, 2022.

Rahmon shined on both sides of the ball for Houston, recording a 9-2-17 line for a .412 hitting percentage while adding six blocks. In addition to her 10 blocks, Morin notched a career-high seven digs as well as six kills. Senior Bre Reid paced all Houston hitters with 19 kills while senior Alana Torres-Rivera led the team with 23 digs.

The match began with both teams stringing together short runs to trade the lead. Tied at 15-15, Houston won three of the next four points to grab the advantage before UCF evened the set again at 20-all. A 3-0 run but the Cougars back in front, but the Knights answered with a 5-0 stretch to claim the set, 25-23.

Houston answered decisively in the second. Down 3-1 after four serves, Houston rattled off a 10-0 run to grab the lead. While UCF cut slightly into the gap throughout the set, the Cougars shut the door on a comeback, winning 25-21.

The Cougars maintained the momentum in the third. A pair of 4-0 runs put the home team up 12-9 before a 7-0 stretch pushed the gap to nine. A late 3-0 run from UCF wasn't enough, handing Houston a 25-20 set win. Houston forced 12 attack errors from the Knights in the third set, limiting UCF to a -.029 hitting efficiency in the frame, while Reid smashed six kills past the Knights' defense.

UCF seized the energy early in the third, using an 11-1 run to establish an early 12-3 lead. The Knights kept their lead through the remainder of the frame to force a fifth set, 25-17.

With a 5-1 run to start the fifth, UCF kept applying pressure in the final frame. Houston answered with a 5-0 run of its own to take the lead before the teams found themselves tied at 10-10. Houston nearly won the match, forcing match point at 14-12, but a 5-1 stretch gave the Knights the set, 17-15, and the match, 3-2.

NOTABLES
·       Houston out-blocked UCF, 16.0-13.0, marking the team's 14^th time this year out-blocking its opponent.
·       The Cougars have forced 30-or-more errors from its opponent four times this season.
·       Reid posted her 45^th career match with 10-or-more kills and her ninth of the season.
·       Torres-Rivera collected her 10^th match of the season in double-digits for digs and her fourth career match with 20-or-more.

UP NEXT
After a weekend off, Houston is back in action as it heads to Morgantown for a battle at West Virginia. First serve in the Oct. 30 match is slated for 5 p.m. CT.

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– UHCougars.com –

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