Georgiades, Wendel Shine as Cougars Down Mountaineers

HOUSTON – Graduate libero Kate Georgiades and redshirt sophomore middle blocker Ella Wendel highlighted a stellar defensive effort for the University of Houston Volleyball team as it clinched a four-set win over West Virginia on Friday night at Fertitta Center.

Georgiades used 23 digs to record her second 20-plus dig effort of the week while also adding four assists and going a perfect 14-for-14 on service receptions. Wendel recorded a career-high seven blocks (two solo, five assists), leading the Cougars (7-7, 2-2 Big 12) as the team tallied 13 on the night. As a whole, Houston's defensive effort stifled the Mountaineers (6-9, 0-4 Big 12) offense, limiting West Virginia to a .129 hitting percentage which including a -.036 mark in the second set.

Aiding Wendel in the blocking game, a quadruplet of Cougars also added stops in the match. Junior outside hitter Avery Shimaitis tallied five (two solo, three assists) blocks while redshirt junior middle blocker Barakat Rahmon posted four total blocks (two solo, two assists), graduate outside hitter Angela Grieve earned three block assists and senior outside hitter Katie Corelli claimed one block assist.

The Cougars remained even with West Virginia through much of the first set. Remaining tied after 20 points, a 4-0 run gave the Mountaineers the lead until Houston closed the gap and took the lead at 20-18. West Virginia rallied back, forcing set point at 24-23, but three consecutive Cougar points gave Houston the comeback victory in the opening frame, 26-24.

Houston maintained the momentum going into the second set. While the teams evenly split the first 10 points, the Cougars used a 6-1 stretch to claim the lead and cruised to a 25-14 set win.

West Virginia answered in the third. Starting the set with a 3-0 run, the Mountaineers never allowed Houston to tie as they forced a fourth set with a 25-22 third frame victory.

Houston put the match away in the fourth. After winning seven of the first 10 points, the Cougars extended their lead to 18-10 with a 5-1 run later in the set. While West Virginia closed the gap to five at 20-15, Houston sealed the 3-1 match win with a 25-20 set victory.

NOTABLES
·       Georgiades tallied her 50^th career match with 20-or-more digs, including six this season.
·       Wendel's seven blocks marked the most by a Cougar this season.
·       Grieve tallied her fourth consecutive double-double with 12 digs and 10 kills. She leads the team with seven on the season, bringing her career total to 16.
·       Grieve has tallied 10-or-more kills in 84 career matches.
·       Houston remained undefeated against West Virginia, moving to 5-0 all-time against the Mountaineers.
·       Georgiades has tallied a double-digit digs total in 18 consecutive matches, dating back to Nov. 22, 2023 against Baylor.
· With 11 kills, Corelli recorded her 25th career double-digit kill effort.

UP NEXT
Houston caps a three-match homestand with a meeting against Iowa State on Wednesday, Oct. 9. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Georgiades, Wendel Shine as Cougars Down Mountaineers

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Katie Corelli

Angela Grieve

Avery Shimaitis

Barakat Rahmon

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