PREVIEW: Volleyball Welcomes UCF, USF This Weekend
10/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HOUSTON â€" A spooky Friday night is in store for Cougar fans as Houston Volleyball hosts Shasta and Sasha's Spooktacular.
The Cougars (15-7, 5-5 American) are set to host UCF for a 7 p.m. match Friday night inside the Athletics/Alumni Center. On Sunday, Houston Volleyball closes the weekend as the Cougars welcomes USF for a 1 p.m. match.
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PROMOTIONS
Friday, October 30th: Shasta and Sasha's Spooktacular
• Trick or Treat with Shasta, Sasha and the UH Cheerleaders
• Come in costume, get into the game for only $4
• Special Halloween Halftime act by Shasta and Sasha
• Pumpkin Carving Contest voted on by the fans
Sunday, November 1st: Girl Scout & YMCA Day
• UH patches to any Girl Scout troop that attends
• Special halftime performance by the Cougar Dolls
• Group rates available
QUICK HITS ON HOUSTON
« Houston Volleyball enters the weekend off a 1-1 week on the road. The Cougars picked up a huge five-set win over second place Temple Friday night in Philadelphia. Houston then dropped three straight to UConn on Sunday.
« Senior libero Olivia O'Dell tallied 33 digs on the weekend, averaging 4.13 digs per set. She reached her 500th dig this weekend and enters the top 10 in school history for digs in a single season.
« Houston opened the 2015 season 10-2 heading into conference play. This is the best start since the 1989 season when the program opened 12-2 leading into the Southwest Conference season.
« Houston posted a record of 13-3 after 16 matches for the first time since the 1994 season. The 1994 team went on the win the Southwest Conference regular season, the SWC tournament and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
UCF KNIGHTS
UCF (11-11, 5-5 American) enters the weekend off two wins against in-state rivals USF and wildcard East Carolina last week. In the last meeting earlier this season, Houston upset the Knights in five sets.
• Series Record: UH leads, 11-5
• Last Meeting: Oct. 4, 2015 - UH 3, UCF 2
USF BULLS
USF (7-15, 4-6 American) snapped a four-game losing streak with a sweep over East Carolina last week. When the teams met earlier this month, UH nabbed another huge five-set win on the road against the Bulls.
• Series Record: UH lead, 13-10
• Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 2015 - UH 3, USF 2
DIG IT OUT - OLIVIA O'DELL
Senior Olivia O'Dell jumped straight to the top of the record books and national stat leaderboards in back-to-back weeks this season.
O'Dell posted a record-breaking 32 digs in a three-set match vs. Cincinnati (Oct.18), tying the nation's best in that category. She also set a new school and conference record with 47 digs in a five-set win over Tulane (Oct. 7). She currently leads the nation for most digs in a single match (five sets).
For the season totals, she moved up to top 10 nationally in total digs and digs per set.
National Rank | Category | Conf. Rank |
4th | Digs per set (5.86) | 1st |
8th | Total Digs (504) | 1st |
O'Dell has totaled 504 digs, averaging 5.86 digs per set. She moves into the top 10 in school history for digs in a single season and still holds onto second in the record books for digs per set (5.86).
She has tallied 20+digs in 13 matches and double-digit dig performances in all 22 matches this season. O'Dell has also reached 30+ digs in three matches and 40+ digs in one match this season.
SINGLE SEASON | ||
9th | Digs | 504 |
2nd | Digs Per Set | 5.86 |
CAREER | ||
6th | Digs | 1,370 |
9th | Digs Per Set | 3.11 |
Brookah Palmer
Freshman outside hitter Brookah Palmer has been a great six-rotation addition for the Cougars. She has posted 20+kills in five matches including one 30+ kill match, double-digit kills in 21 matches and has recorded nine double-doubles so far this season.
Palmer was named the first Offensive Player of the Week for the 2015 season following her outstanding opening weekend.
National Rank | Category | Conf. Rank |
49th | Attacks per set (11.07) | 1st |
25th | Kills per set (4.29) | 1st |
20th | Kills SG Highs (369) | 1st |
15th | Points (420.0) | 1st |
24th | Points Per Set (4.88) | 1st |
25th | Total Attacks (952) | 2nd |
20th | Total Kills (369) | 1st |
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter @UHCougarVB and "Like" /HoustonCougarVolleyball on Facebook. Houston Volleyball is now on Istagram as well, UHCougarVB.
SHASTA PASS
With just six more home volleyball games, fans can still purchase to 2015-16 Shasta Pass for just $50. Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Women's Basketball, Volleyball and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $8 for all four sports. Fans can save $126 alone during the Houston Volleyball and Soccer seasons. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. To find out more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Price at (713) 743-GOUH
