Cougars Claim Conference Home Opener Against Texas Tech

HOUSTON – The Houston Volleyball team posted a decisive four-set win over Texas Tech in the Cougars' Big 12 Conference home opener at Fertitta Center on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt senior Barakat Rahmon dominated for Houston (8-5, 1-1 Big 12), posting nine kills while also adding eight blocks, aiding in a defensive effort that shut down Texas Tech's (8-6, 0-2 Big 12) offense. The Red Raiders were limited to a .070 hitting percentage, including a -.250 efficiency in the second set.

Senior Avery Shimaitis helped lead the Cougar offense with 10 kills, her second straight match in double-digits and fourth of the season in double figures. Senior Alana Torres-Rivera led Houston with 12 digs while five Cougars – Rahmon (8), Shimaitis (5), redshirt senior Kellen Morin (4), sophomore Alyssa Gonzales (2) and freshman Tara Greenberry (2) – recorded multiple blocks.

Neither team was able to establish an edge early. With 12 ties in the frame, Houston used a 3-0 stretch at 20-all to take a late lead, then won back-to-back points to win the opener, 25-21.

While the first set was a back-and-forth affair, the Cougars pounced early in the second. A 5-0 run put Houston up 9-3 while a 4-0 run shortly after extended its lead to 14-5. Maintaining a nine-point edge through much of the set, a late 5-1 surge put Houston up two, 25-13. In addition to limiting Texas Tech to a -.250 (5-11-24) hitting percentage, Houston successfully sided-out on 13-of-14 (92 percent) opportunities, its highest percentage in a set this season.

The Red Raiders answered in the third. A 4-1 run put Texas Tech up 12-8 and Houston's in-state rival cruised to a 25-16 set three win.

Houston responded to clinch the match in the fourth. After the Cougars won seven of the first 10 points, the home team controlled play for much of the first half of the set. Texas Tech fought back to tie the frame at 16-16, then used a 3-0 run to take a 22-19 lead. Houston answered with a 3-0 run of its own to tie the fourth at 23-23 all, but the Red Raiders fought off a set point to force extras. After two set point opportunities for both teams, the third time was the charm for Houston as it took the set, 29-27, and the match, 3-1.

NOTABLES
·       Houston is 72-32 under Head Coach David Rehr in conference matches, including a 19-19 mark in the Big 12.
·       The Cougars are 21-0 under Coach Rehr when holding an opponent to a sub-.100 hitting percentage.
·       With 12.0 in the match, Houston has averaged 3.0 blocks or more per set in six matches this year.

UP NEXT
Houston is back in action on Oct. 1 as the team starts a four-match road swing with a 7 p.m., Wednesday, tilt against Baylor.

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