Houston Drops SMU Doubletree Invitational Opener to #7 Purdue

DALLAS – The University of Houston Volleyball team fell to #7 Purdue in three sets in its opening match at the SMU Doubletree Invitational on Friday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

Graduate libero Kate Georgiades tallied 10 digs in the loss, her 10^th straight match with a double-digit mark dating back to Nov. 22, 2023. Graduate outside hitter Angela Grieve and senior outside hitter Katie Corelli tied for the team lead with nine kills each, with junior outside hitter Avery Shimaitis just behind the pair with eight kills. Redshirt junior middle blocker Barakat Rahmon continued her dominance at the net with a pair of solo blocks, while Grieve and redshirt sophomore Ella Wendel both posted two block assists.

Purdue controlled the opening frame from the start. A 3-0 run gave the Boilermakers the early edge while another 3-0 stretch later in the set extended their lead to 10-4. Purdue, closing the set on a 6-0 run, went on to take the first, 25-12.

The Boilermakers again jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second, maintaining the four point lead at 14-10 later in the set. Houston closed the gap to two as Purdue forced the media timeout, but a 4-1 run for the Boilermakers out of the break extended Purdue's lead back to 19-14. Houston again closed the gap with four consecutive points, however Purdue held off the Cougars to win the set, 25-21.

Purdue snagged the lead quickly in the final frame, winning five of the first six points to earn an early advantage. Houston kept the set in reach, trailing 15-10 at the media timeout, but Purdue spoiled any chance of a Cougar comeback, winning the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.

NOTABLES
· The loss marks the first time Houston has been swept in back-to-back matches since Nov. 11-16, 2018, prior to Head Coach David Rehr's hire at Houston. Rehr's Cougar squad has only been swept 11 times in six years.
· The Cougars are now 14-7 in matches immediately following a loss.

UP NEXT
Houston closes out the SMU Doubletree Invitational with a battle tomorrow against the loser of tonight's #10 Kentucky/rv SMU match. If Kentucky wins, Houston will play SMU at 4 p.m. while if SMU wins, Houston would play Kentucky at 2 p.m.

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