University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
10-5,3-1Big 12
West Virginia
9-5,2-2Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 21 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 25 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 1 |
Cougars Maul Mountaineers For Third Straight Conference Win
10/4/2026 4:23:00 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The University of Houston Volleyball team topped West Virginia over four sets at the Hope Coliseum, Sunday afternoon. Houston's 3-1 mark in Big 12 Conference play is its best start since joining the conference in 2023. Â
Junior Sydney Jones paced the Cougars offense with 24 kills, followed by sophomore Noemi Despaigne's 15 kills. Sophomore Gillian Pitts led the defensive effort with 17 digs. The Cougars hit .300 as a team for the first time since 2024 when they hit .380 against UCF (10/25/24).Â
Jones' seven kills were not enough as West Virginia claimed the first set, 25-21. With the Cougars holding a narrow 8-7 advantage, West Virginia rattled off four points in a row, taking the lead 11-8. The Mountaineers held a 15-11 lead at the media timeout. West Virginia retained its lead, winning the first 25-21.Â
Houston evened the match, triumphing in the second set, 25-17. The Cougars jumped to an early 10-4 lead. West Virginia battled back squaring the score at 15. Ensuing the media break, Houston tallied six consecutive points, retaking the lead 21-15. Forcing a West Virginia timeout. The Cougars closed the set, winning 25-17. Â
The Cougars held the Mountaineers to a .000 hitting percentage gaining the lead in the match, claiming the third set 25-20. Houston dominated the early action, holding a 15-6 lead heading into the media timeout. The Cougars extended the lead to 12, with the score 21-9. West Virginia rallied using a 6-0 run to narrow the lead to six, forcing a Houston timeout. Out of the timeout, Rehr's squad finished the set 25-20.Â
Despaigne's six kills led the Cougars to a 25-23 fourth set win to give Houston its third conference win in a row. A competitive start from both sides brought the score level to eight.  The Cougars edged a 15-13 lead into the media timeout. A Houston 8-4 run extended the lead to 23-17. Five unanswered points by West Virginia shorted the lead to one, before two kills by junior Kamille Gibson ending the fourth and final set, 25-23. Â
STANDOUT COUGARSÂ Â
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Sydney Jones:Â 24Â kills; .442Â hit percentageÂ
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Noemi Despaige: 15 kills; .297 hit percentageÂ
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Gillian Pitts: 17 digs; 5 assistsÂ
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Shannon Dworaczyk: 45 assists; 6 digs; 2 acesÂ
UP NEXTÂ
Houston returns to the Fertitta Center to begin a three-game homestand. The Cougars are set to face #18 BYU for the annual dig pink game.Â
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– UHCougars.com –Â
