Stellar Defense Propels Cougars Past Arizona - University of Houston Athletics

Friday, October 30

Tucson, Ariz.

2 p.m. CT

University of Houston

13-8,6-4Big 12

Arizona

6-15,1-9Big 12

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Houston	25	29	25	3
Arizona	23	27	19	0

10/30/2026 6:15:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Game Book Join Point Houston

Houston averaged over 20 digs a set with three players reaching double-digits

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Houston Volleyball team swept Arizona on Friday afternoon inside the McKale Center. It marks the first conference sweep on the road since Nov. 6, 2024, when the team took on Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.

Junior Sydney Jones paced the Cougars with 19 kills. Sophomore Gillian Pitts lead the team in digs tallying 18. Her 6.00 digs per set is the highest in a single match by any Cougar this season. Freshman setter Shannon Dworaczyk tallied 44 assists, averaging over 14 a set.

Despaigne led the Cougars in the first set, pacing the squad with seven kills. Pitts registered nine digs, a season set high. Houston controlled most of the first with the Cougars never trailing in the set. At the media break, Houston led 15-11. The Cougars extended its lead to six forcing an Arizona timeout at 17-11. With Houston leading 21-15, the Wildcats narrowed the deficit using a 4-0 to bring the score within two. Houston won the tightly contested set 25-23 with a Despaigne kill closing the set.

Neither team stretched a lead early with nine ties to start the set. With Houston leading 11-10, Arizona utilized a 5-1 run, taking a 15-12 advantage into the media timeout. With Arizona leading 19-16, Houston scored four unanswered points, flipping the lead to 20-19 for the Cougars. Houston reached its first set point at 24-22, before Arizona fended off Houston attacks to tie the set at 24. Arizona proceeded to create three set points of their own forcing Houston on the backfoot. With Arizona leading 27-26, three points in a row by the Cougars clinched the second set, 29-27.

Houston stepped up its offense in the final set, hitting .367 winning the set, 25-19. Jones recorded 10 kills in the set, the most by a Cougar in a set this season. The Cougars kickstarted the set on a 4-1 run, handing them the early advantage. The Wildcats clawed back to take a 10-8 lead. Houston answered taking a 15-13 lead into the media timeout. Houston extended the lead, using a Jones ace to finish the final set 25-19.

STANDOUT COUGARS:

Shannon Dworaczyk: 44 assists
Noemi Despaige: 14 kills; .258 hit percentage; 2 blocks; 3 digs
Gillian Pitts: 18 digs, 6.00 digs per set, 1 ace
Sydney Jones: 19 kills; 2 aces; 10 kills in set 3 (Highest by a Cougar this season)

UP NEXT
Houston remains in Arizona to face off against #10 Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. On Sunday afternoon. The match marks the sixth ranked opponent the Cougars played this season.

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– UHCougars.com –