University of Houston
@ East Carolina*
Volleyball Earns First Sweep Of 2004
10/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2004
GREENVILLE, N.C. - With three Cougars posting double-digit kill numbers, the Houston volleyball team remained perfect against Conference USA foe East Carolina, sinking the Pirates 3-0 on Friday night.
Host team ECU suffered its first loss of the season in C-USA play, standing at 2-1 after wins against UAB and USF and tonight's loss. The win improves the Cougars' record against the Pirates to 4-0 as the team also improves to 2-1 in C-USA play and gives them their first three-game sweep of the year.
Led by junior Kariny Ritter who led all players with 16 kills, the Cougars did what they have struggled to do all season, win Game 1 and then hold on to that lead to close out a match.
Sophomore Kelly McAnelly added 14 kills while hitting a season high .500 on the evening, while senior Loure Dews chipped in 11 kills and a match high six blocks.
As a team the Cougars hit .394, the best for Houston this year, gaining 52 kills on 99 attempts with only 13 errors to ECU's 43 kills, 112 attempts and 22 errors leading to a .188 attack percentage.
Houston claimed Games 1 and 2 in solid performances at 30-24 both times. The Cougars then took the opportunity to close the door on the Pirates with a 30-20 final in Game 3.
However, the short match brought to an end the impressive run by junior libero Jaci Gonzalez who had recorded double digit kill performances in her last 58 matches. That mark led the nation by 10 matches, but came to an end as Gonzalez could gather only eight digs on the short night, ending a streak that began almost a year ago to the day when she tallied eight digs against USF on October 12, 2002.
Gonzalez will look to start a second streak as the Cougars head to Charlotte to face the 49ers on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (CDT).
