Volleyball Closes Out State Farm Classic With 3-2 Win Over Tennessee

Three Cougars Record Double-Digit Kills In Victory

 The University of Houston volleyball team closed out tournament play at the State Farm Classic with a 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 15-8) win over Tennessee Saturday night in Champaign, Ill.

Three Cougars finished with double-digit kills as the Cougars improved to 4-2 on the season. Junior Stephanie Nwachkwu paced the team with 15 kills and junior Katie Norris and senior Lucy Charuk added 14 and 11 kills, respectively. FreshmanNatalie Keck added a team-high 17 digs.

“We played a very good program and team tonight,” head coach Molly Alvey said. “We stayed very patient and played good volleyball and matched Tennessee point for point. Lucy (Charuk) played an amazing match. Lucy, Chandace (Tryon) and Stephanie(Nwachukwu) had amazing blocks and it allowed us to get a touch or get back to play defense. Our serving was also exceptional tonight.”

“We played a true high level of volleyball. Ingrida (Zauere) came off the bench and played well and had two huge plays that launched us forward.”

After dropping the first set in a tough 25-19 decision, Houston rallied back to even the match with a 25-22 win in the second set. Houston matched the Vols point for point early in the set before falling behind 20-15. The Cougars answered with a 5-0 run to tie the score, 20-20. That would be all the momentum they needed as they took the lead on the next point and went on to win the set.

Houston came out of the break with the match tied 1-1 and battled to a 2-1 match lead. The Cougars played to a 3-3 tie and traded points with Tennessee before taking a 6-5 lead. UH held on to the slim lead and battled to a 25-23 third set victory.

 Tennessee jumped out to an early lead on the Cougars and never looked back, taking a 25-20 win in the fourth set.

After dropping the fourth set, Houston played to a 6-6 tie in the final set. After a service error by Nikki Brice broke the tie the Cougars’ favor, UH extended its lead to 13-7. A kill by Kelsey Robinson would pull the Volunteers within five, 13-8, but back-to-back kills by Charuk and Norris sealed the win.

UP NEXT
The Cougars will continue the season Sept. 9-10 at the UK Invitational on the campus of the University of Kentucky. The Cougars will open tournament playagainst West Virginia at 10 a.m. Friday and continue against Kentucky at 6 p.m. They will play a final match against Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m.