University of Houston
7-2,0-0Big 12
Liberty
7-3,0-0CUSA
#22 Cougars Douse Flames
9/14/2023 7:14:00 PM | Volleyball
Houston picks up its second sweep of the season in its non-conference finale
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The #22 University of Houston Volleyball team posted its second sweep of the season in a dominating three-set win over Liberty on Thursday night at Reed Arena.
The Cougars (7-2) held the Flame (7-3) to a -.128 hitting percentage, the first time Houston has held an opponent to a negative mark since Southern hit -.013 on Aug. 26, 2017. The Cougars defensive effort forced 29 attack errors, including 11 via block, to stifle the Flames' offense.Â
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Eight of the Cougars' 11 blocks came from junior Kellen Morin, bringing her total to 50.0 on the season. Graduate Kenna Sauer tallied 10 digs for her 35th career match with a double-digit mark in the category, while junior Katie Corelli shined offensively, tallying 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage.Â
SET ONE
The Cougars quickly seized the momentum, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Houston also forced a Liberty timeout just eight serves into the match with a 6-2 lead after posting three blocks, including a pair by Morin. The Cougars continued to cruise in the set, using four 3-0 and a 6-0 run to power to a 25-11 set win.Â
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Houston tallied 11 kills and five blocks in the opening frame, hitting .400 while limiting Liberty to a -.222 efficiency. Morin recorded four blocks in the set, including two solo efforts, while also posting three kills on three attempts to lead the Cougars.
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SET TWO
Houston continued to roll in the second set, posting a 3-0 run after being down 2-1 to take the lead. The teams traded points after, but the Cougars surged ahead with six straight points to take a 14-7 advantage. Houston's sideout effort limited Liberty to no more than two consecutive points in the frame, while the Cougars used a 3-0 run to seal a 25-16 win in the second.Â
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Corelli notched five kills for a .364 hitting percentage and Sauer earned seven digs in the middle frame.
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SET THREE
The Cougars wasted no time in jumping out to a 4-0 lead and further extended their advantage to 8-2 after 10 serves. While Liberty was able to shrink its deficit to four at 9-5, that was the closest the Flame would get for the remainder of the set as Houston tallied a 3-0 and 4-0 run to clinch the win, 25-16.Â
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Graduate Abbie Jackson tallied five kills for Houston in the final set, while Morin added three blocks and both graduate Morgan Janda and senior Annie Cooke posted four assists.
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UP NEXT
Houston begins its inaugural Big 12 Conference slate by heading to Provo, Utah, for a battle against #12 BYU. The match, which will be nationally televised on ESPNU, is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT first serve on Sept. 20.
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