Cougars Use Program-Record Blocks to Down Texas Tech

Wednesday, November 26

Lubbock, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Houston

9-19,2-15Big 12

Texas Tech

10-19,2-15Big 12

Houston

Texas Tech

Barakat Rahmon celebrates after a point.

Cougars Use Program-Record Blocks to Down Texas Tech

11/26/2025 9:31:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Match Book

Houston ties school record with 20.0 stuffs against Red Raiders to sweep season series

LUBBOCK, Texas – Behind a program-record tying 20.0 blocks, including 12 from redshirt senior Barakat Rahmon, the Houston Volleyball team swept its season series against Texas Tech with a five-set victory at United Supermarkets Arena on Wednesday night.

With 20.0 blocks, Houston tied its program best for the third time under Head Coach David Rehr after initially setting the record against UCF in 2008. The previous two instances both occurred in Rehr's first season with the Cougars in 2019. Rahmon led Houston with a career-high 12 denials, tying the fourth most by a Cougar in a five-set match. The mark was also the most by a Houston player since Rachel Tullos posted 12 against South Florida on Oct. 9, 2022.

Both redshirt junior Ella Wendel and senior Avery Shimaitis set new career highs with eight blocks a piece while seven Cougars tallied at least one stop during the match. Freshman Gillian Pitts continued her streak of matches with double-digit digs, bringing her streak to five as she tallied 18 with redshirt sophomore Alyssa Gonzales set a career-high with 12 digs in the match.

Senior Bre Reid led Houston's offense with 16 kills, her 50^th career match with double figures in the category.

Houston started quickly in the match. While the teams evenly split the first 10 points, Houston used a 3-0 run to snag the lead. The Red Raiders answered with a 4-0 run to reclaim the edge, but an 11-1 stretch put the Cougars ahead for good as Houston won the opener, 25-13, behind seven blocks including four from Rahmon.

Texas Tech answered in the second. A close set early as the Red Raiders held a narrow 14-13 lead, the host team used a 5-1 run to extend its advantage and secure a 25-19 set win.

The Red Raiders continued to control play in the third. An 11-1 run put the home team in front 13-3 and while Houston closed the gap to 17-12, it wasn't enough as Texas Tech won the frame, 25-13.

The Cougars seized the momentum in the fourth. Down 11-8, Houston rallied with a 4-0 run to take a 16-14 edge behind back-to-back blocks from Reid. The Cougars then used 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0 stretches to close out a 25-18 set win that evened the match at 2-2.

Heading into the fifth, the visitors quickly grabbed the energy as a 3-0 run put Houston in front, 5-2. The teams nearly perfectly traded points after as Houston took the match with a 15-12 set win in the fifth.

UP NEXT
The Cougars return to Fertitta Center for its season finale against #20 TCU on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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