Five-Set Thriller Leads to Houston Win

HOUSTON – After holding a 2-0 match lead, the University of Houston Volleyball team battled its way through a five-set thriller to take down SMU by a score of 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 23-21) on Friday night.

With the win, the Cougars (5-1, 2-0 AAC) extend their winning streak to five, while the Mustangs (4-2, 0-2 AAC) drop back-to-back contests on their home floor for the first time since 2017.

This is the first time Houston has taken the season series from SMU since 2005. Friday's victory also marks the second time in as many years, Houston has started American Athletic Conference action 2-0.

Houston 3, SMU 2
Set 1

After Houston took a three-point lead at 11-8, SMU went on a 9-3 run to take a three-point lead of its own.
Junior Kortlyn Henderson capped off a 3-0 run with her third kill of the match to tie the score at 17.
A block at the net from sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos put Houston in front by two, which finished the set on a 5-0 run to win 25-20.

Set 2

Freshman Annie Cooke played a big role early in the set, showing a variety of skills between a dumping off for kills and a service ace to help give Houston the 10-8 lead.
With the Cougars ahead by a score, a kill from Tullos that was part of a 3-0 run from Houston forced SMU to call a timeout, trailing, 20-16.
The break in action never stopped Houston's momentum as a kill from sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jackson sealed the 25-21 set win and give the Cougars a 2-0 match lead.

Set 3

Defense played a pivotal role early, as a couple blocks at the net gave the Cougars a 6-1 advantage.
After the sixth block of the night from Tullos, Houston found itself ahead 15-9.
With Houston leading 18-12, SMU strung together a 9-1 run, which proved to be the difference, as the Mustangs took the third frame 25-22.

Set 4

Both teams battled it out, as neither team was able to gain more than a two-point edge on the other, until a 6-2 run put the Mustangs in front 18-13.
Houston fought and brought the score to within a point at 22-21, but the deficit proved be too much to overcome, as SMU forced a fifth set with the 25-23 win.

Set 5

The decisive set was no different, with both sides trading points for much of the frame.
Battling it all the way out, after SMU went up 21-20, Houston went ahead by one off back-to-back kills from Jackson.
That set up the final play which caused a miscue from SMU, resulting in the 23-21 set and match win for Houston.

INSIDE THE BOX

Houston has now won four the last five matchups with SMU.
Houston has won the season series against SMU for the first time since 2005.
Houston posted a season-high 11 blocks.
Houston had two players (Abbie Jackson, 32; Kortlyn Henderson, 20) record 20 or more kills. Both are career-high marks for Jackson and Henderson.
Freshman setter Annie Cooke is the first Cougar surpass the 60-assist plateau in a match since Destiny Patterson finished with 66 helpers on Sept. 26, 2014. Cooke also finished with a career-high 12 digs, the first double-double of her career.
Junior libero Torie Frederick posted a match-high 25 digs, the third time this season she has recorded 25 or more digs in a match.
Sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos recorded a season-high 11 blocks, the most by a Cougar this year. It's the fifth time in her career she has posted double-digit blocks in a contest.

UP NEXT
Houston returns to the Athletics/Alumni Center to face Tulane on Thursday. First serve for that contest is slated for 6 p.m. at can be seen on Facebook Live 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.

– UHCougars.com –

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Next Event

Team Stats

Abbie Jackson

Kortlyn Henderson

Celeste Darling

Isabel Theut

Players Mentioned

Annie Cooke

Torie Frederick

Kortlyn Henderson

Abbie Jackson

Rachel Tullos

Players Mentioned

Annie Cooke

Torie Frederick

Kortlyn Henderson

Abbie Jackson

Rachel Tullos

Upcoming Events

Recent Results