University of Houston Athletics
Volleyball Battles Rice For Bayou City Bragging Rights
11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2005
 | "It's a big in-city rivalry. We can't make one game any bigger than the other because we saw what happened a couple of weeks ago against Marshall when we did that. We need to stay within ourselves and play hard." Libero Jaci Gonzalez on playing Rice. |
Houston Volleyball Gamenotes (PDF)
Download Free Acrobat Reader
HOUSTON - The University of Houston volleyball team heads into a stretch of five matches over the next 10 days.
The Cougars (13-9, 8-2 C-USA) sit alone in second place in the league standings after finishing October with an 8-1 record. UH has a game-and-a -half cushion over SMU and Tulsa
"Our goal is sweep and win our next five matches," head coach Bill Walton said. "That would put us in good shape heading into the conference tournament."
Jennifer Hohl has been a key cog in the Houston offense this season. For her efforts that fueled the Houston offense to a .260 attack percentage and an 18.00 kill per game average, Hohl was named C-USA Co-Setter of the Week with Rice's Kristina Hoban.
Like her senior teammate Kariny Ritter, Hohl has really taken her game to another level since conference play began. The Houston offense is third in C-USA matches, connecting on a .247 attack percentage, including a season-best .529 showing in game one against UTEP last time out. Her efficiency allowed four hitters to attack over a .300 clip for the match against the Miners.
UH ranks second in C-USA matches, pumping out 16.49 kills per game while dishing out 15.00 assists per game. Hohl is fifth in the league, accounting for 12.43 of the helpers.
Hohl paces UH attack, passing out 887 assists this season and is two assists shy of surpassing her season total from a season ago. That's not all the ways she contributes. Hohl is fourth on the team, registering 187 digs in addition to adding 43 total blocks.
Ritter has been the staple of the Houston attack this season. She paces the Cougars, knocking home 384 kills this season. She has already surpassed her total of 356 kills from last season. Ritter has picked up her play in C-USA matches and is second in the league smashing 5.34 spikes per game.
"I'm waiting for her to have a really big game," Walton said. "A big game would be where she has 20-plus kills and hits for a .500 or .600 attack percentage, coupled with six blocks and an ace per game. "
 Jaci Gonzalez is racing up the all-time digs list.  | |
Jaci Gonzalez enters the week tied for sixth all-time, tied for second among active players on the NCAA list with 2,256 career digs.
The San Antonio native is currently tied with active Pitt libero Megan McClain and 27 digs shy of Stephanie Keller (Ball State, 2001-2004) on the all-time list. With 16 digs against UTEP last weekend, Gonzalez passed Becky Dreher's 2,246 digs (Oral Roberts, 2001-2004).
Gonzalez is not only the top libero in C-USA but one of the top liberos in the nation sporting 496 digs at a 6.05 per game clip. The 6.05 digs per game is seventh in the NCAA.
Securing a top four seed would mean a first round bye at the conference tournament, but Houston also realizes that three and a half games separates the No. 2 seed from the No. 9 spot.
Wednesday will mark the 64th rival between these in-city rivals. Houston has a commanding, 53-10 advantage in the all-time series. However, Rice has won the last five meetings between the two schools. In fact, the Owls have swept the Cougars in the four matches. The last Houston win in the series came in 2001 at the Rice Invitational to start the season.
"It's a big in-city rivalry," Gonzalez said. "We can't make one game any bigger than the other because we saw what happened a couple of weeks ago against Marshall when we did that. We need to stay within ourselves and play hard."
First serve against the Owls is on tap for 7pm. UH students get in free to all home volleyball matches showing their Cougar 1 Card.
