Volleyball Drops Five-Set Heartbreaker to Ole Miss

HOUSTON – Despite four players posting double-doubles, the University of Houston Volleyball team stumbled late, falling in five-sets to Ole Miss on the second day of the Cougar Challenge at Fertitta Center.

Graduates Kate Georgiades (18 digs, 10 assists), Annie Cooke (17 assists, 11 digs) and Angela Grieve (13 kills, 12 digs) and freshman Lily Barron (12 kills, 12 digs) all posted double-doubles for the Cougars (4-5) in the match. The quadruplet's double-double performances mark the first time Houston has had four in a match since Abbie Jackson, Morgan Janda, Cooke and Kenna Sauer all accomplished the feat against SMU on Sept. 9, 2023.

Barron not only exceled on offense and defense, but she also dominated on the service line, tallying six aces in the match. The mark tied Houston's third-best showing in a five-set match while also tying for fourth overall. Houston's 13 aces on the night slotted in as the third-most in a five-set match in team history.

For the second straight night, Houston dominated the opening set. The Cougars started on a 6-0 run before extending their lead all the way to 14-1 before Ole Miss (8-2) tallied its second point. By the Rebels' second timeout, Houston amassed a 18-4 lead and cruised for the remainder of the frame to win 25-10.

The Cougars recorded eight service aces in the opening set along with 11 kills, hitting .429 with only two errors.

Ole Miss responded in the second, winning seven of the first ten points to claim the lead. The Rebels kept Houston at an arm's length for the rest of the second, evening the match with a 25-17 victory.

Houston put itself back in front after the third. Hitting .306 in the frame, the Cougars posted another five aces along with six kills from Grieve and five from senior Katie Corelli to win the set, 25-21.

The Rebels forced a fifth with a strong defensive showing in the fourth. While Houston held Ole Miss to a .175 hitting efficiency, four Rebel blocks stifled Houston's offensive effort and clinched a 25-20 set victory.

Houston and Ole Miss traded blows for most of the fifth set. After finding themselves tied at 2-2, Ole Miss grabbed a small lead with back-to-back points, but Houston evened the set again at 6-6. Two ties at 7-7 and 8-8 later, a 4-0 Rebel run gave Ole Miss the room it needed to seal the comeback victory, taking the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2.

NOTABLES
· Grieve's 13 kills marked the 80^th time in her career she's posted a double-digit tally.
· Barron has posted double-digit digs in four matches this season.

UP NEXT
Houston concludes both the Cougar Challenge and non-conference play by hosting Tennessee State at 5 p.m., Saturday.

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– UHCougars.com –

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Katie Corelli

Angela Grieve

Lily Barron

Avery Shimaitis

Players Mentioned

Lily Barron

Annie Cooke

Katie Corelli

Kate Georgiades

Angela Grieve

Abbie Jackson

Kenna Sauer

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