University of Houston
Tulsa
Volleyball Advances At C-USA Championship, Defeats Tulsa 3-1
11/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 21, 2008
Memphis, Tenn. - Three Cougars recorded double-digit kills to guide the University of Houston volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Tulsa at the Conference USA Championships on Friday at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Memphis.
Senior Justine Farmer recorded her 11th double-double this season with a team-high 16 kills and 13 digs. Senior Barbara Freitas added 11 kills and four service aces.
Sophomore Lucy Charuk moved into the UH single season record books with the win. She recorded four block assists to give her 128 on the season, the seventh most block assists in Cougar single season records. Her a144 total blocks also ranks 10th. Charuk also finished the match with 15 kills.
Houston opened the match, 10-1 and it looked as though the Cougars would easily win the first set but the Golden Hurricane slowly chipped away at the lead to pull within four, 19-15. But Houston had built too much of a lead on Tulsa to overcome and they would take the first set, 25-19.
Charuk recorded five kills on seven attempts to lead all players in the first set, while senior Barbara Freitas added four kills and two service aces.
After trading points for much of the second set, Houston was able to take its first lead with the scoreboard reading 13-12 but that would be short lived as the Golden Hurricane tied the set on the next point, 13-13. UH went on to build a two point lead, 18-16 midway through the set, prompting a timeout from the Tulsa bench. Out of the break, Tulsa would battle back tying the score, 20-20. The two teams would trade the next four points before Tulsa took a 23-22 lead.
Tulsa scored the next point on a Houston error but senior Justine Farmer recorded a kill on the next play to continue the set. The Golden Hurricane would tie the match, 1-1 on the next play winning the set, 25-23.
Farmer had a team-high six kills in the second set and Freitas would tie her career-high with four service aces.
The Cougars were able to hold a one point lead early in the third set before the Golden Hurricane was able to put together a two point lead, 10-8, the largest of the set so far. But Houston was able to quickly tie the set, 11-11 on the next three points. With the score tied, 12-12, Tulsa managed to score the next three points and build a slight lead, 15-12, forcing head coach Bill Walton to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Houston scored two quick points to pull within one, 15-14 but Tulsa score two points on their own, to regain a 17-14 lead. The Cougars responded with a 4-0 run to regain the lead, 18-17. They would go on to hold off the Golden Hurricane and take the third set win, 25-23.
The back and forth trend continued to the fourth set, before Tulsa was able to take a 21-19 lead, prompting the Cougar bench to call its first timeout of the set.
Out of the break, Houston was able to battle back and take back the lead, 22-21. They would go on to win the set, 25-22 to win the match, 3-1.
UP NEXT
Houston will continue championship play against No. 1 Tulane at 2 p.m. on Saturday. This will be the third match between the two schools this season. Houston fell 3-0 on the road against the Green Wave and lost a 3-2 decision at home.
Tournament play will continue through Sunday with the Championship match scheduled for 2 p.m. and will air live on CBS College Sports. Calling the action will be Jason Knapp, while Ann Marie Anderson will serve as the color commentary.
Fans, who have purchased the monthly or annual All-Access subscription, can catch earlier tournament action by watching the video stream at www.conferenceusa.com. Non-subscribers can purchase the monthly All-Access subscription for $9.95.
Fans can also purchase the championship game via pay-per-view for $7.95.
Gametracker will also be available for all matches during the tournament.
