Preview: Houston Hits Road to Open American Athletic Conference Play
9/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Volleyball program opens American Athletic Conference play with a pair of road matches, visiting Tulsa in a 7 p.m. first serve on Friday and SMU in a 1 p.m. tilt Sunday.
| AT THE NET | ||
Friday, Sept. 22 | • 7 p.m. | Houston at Tulsa* Live Stats | Live Stream | |
Sunday, Sept. 24 | • 1 p.m. | Houston at SMU* Live Stats | Live Stream | |
QUICK HITS
• The Cougars fell 3-0 at LSU on Saturday to close out their non-conference schedule with a 4-4 record.
• Houston ranks eighth in the nation with 1.84 service aces per set and 22nd with a .145 opponent hitting percentage.
• Sophomore libero Katie Karbo ranks second in The American in digs per set (5.50) and sixth in service aces per set (0.38). Senior middle blocker Brianna Gardner sits sixth in hitting percentage (.316), while senior outside hitter Brianna Lynch is 10th in kills per set (2.97). Freshman setter Abby Irvine ranks third among freshmen in assists per set (6.06).
• The Cougars enter their fifth season as a member of The American with a 25-53 all-time record.
• Houston trails Tulsa 7-16 (Sets: 35-51) in the all-time series and is 2-9 (Sets: 10-27) when visiting the Golden Hurricane.
• The Cougars trail SMU 12-17 (Sets: 50-58) all-time and are 4-10 (Sets: 21-34) when playing the Mustangs in Dallas.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• The Golden Hurricane will play its home opener when it faces Houston on Friday.
• Tulsa enters conference play with a 6-6 record with wins over UTEP, UMKC, SIUE, Wright State, Texas Southern and Oral Roberts.
• Junior Emily Thorson ranks third in The American in kills per set (3.81), while freshman Callie Cook is fourth in hitting percentage (.332). Sophomore Taylor Horsfall sits fourth in the league in digs per set (5.04). Freshman Lindsey Ledyard ranks sixth in the conference in assists per set (8.57), first among freshmen.
• The Golden Hurricane is under the direction of fourth-year Head Coach Ryan Willis.
• Tulsa was tabbed ninth in The American Preseason Coaches' Poll.
SMU
• The Mustangs, who host Tulane on Friday to open conference, own a 6-5 record with wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, UTSA, Texas State and UMass Lowell.
• SMU, which is 1-4 at home, leads the conference in digs per set (17.49) and ranks third in assists per set (12.67) and blocks per set (2.28), and fourth in kills per set (13.40).
• Senior Lauren Mills is third in The American in service aces per set and sixth in kills per set (3.56). Sophomore Kendall Patterson is third in the league in assists per set (9.28), while freshman Lexi Nordmann is tied for fourth in blocks per set (1.19). Sophomore Montana Watts ranks seventh in conference in digs per set (4.70).
• Head Coach Lisa Seifert is in her 22nd season at the reins of the Mustangs.
• SMU was picked fourth in The American Preseason Coaches' Poll.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will continue play in The American and open a four-match homestand, welcoming UConn (Sept. 29), Temple (Oct. 1), Memphis (Oct. 6) and Wichita State (Oct. 8) to Athletics/Alumni Center.
SHASTA PASS
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is once again proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2017-18 season. For just $80, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Volleyball, Soccer, Women's Basketball and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial saving as single-game tickets start at $5 for all four sports. To purchase a Shasta Pass, call 713-GO-COOGS or Click Here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarVB, and "Like" UHCougarVB on Facebook.
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 Pride at (713) 743-GOUH.
