Cougars Drop Opening Match in Paradise Invitational

Saturday, September 12

Nassau, Bahamas

10:30 a.m. C.T

University of Houston

5-2,0-0Big 12

#14 Purdue

4-2,0-0Big Ten

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Houston	18	22	27	0
Purdue	25	25	29	3

Cougars Drop Opening Match in Paradise Invitational

9/12/2026 1:18:00 PM | Volleyball

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Houston fell in three sets to No. 14 Purdue on Saturday afternoon

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The University of Houston Volleyball team lost its second match of the 2026 season against #14 Purdue on Saturday afternoon at the Baha Mar Convention Center in The Bahamas.

The loss against #14 Purdue (4-2) means Houston (5-2) will play at noon CT, tomorrow versus the loser of #3 Kentucky/#8 SMU. The match will air on ESPN2.

Houston struggled in the first set, falling 25-18. Purdue led the entire set using the efforts of sophomore Addy Tindall's 10 kills and a team hitting percentage of .378. The Cougars hit .161 and registered nine kills. Junior Kamille Gibson paced the Cougars with four kills in the set.

Purdue utilized a late 4-0 run to claim a close second set 25-22. The Boilers started strong stretching to an early 10-6 lead. Both teams exchanged points before three unanswered points by the Cougars tied the set at 15. Houston gained a 19-17 advantage led by Gibson, who tallied four kills and an ace in the set. Four unanswered points by Purdue reversed the lead to a 21-19 Boilers lead that would not be relinquished.

The Cougars fell short in the third set 29-27 despite three set points and four team aces. Houston raised their standard of play, holding a lead for the majority of the set. The Cougars launched into an early lead with a 15-10 advantage heading into the media timeout. The lead would stretch to six, their largest lead of the day, following an attacking error by Purdue making it 17-11. At 22-18, the Boilers used three unanswered points to close the gap to 22-21. Following a Gibson kill, Houston reached their first set point of the day at 24-23. Purdue would fend off three set points before gaining a 28-27 advantage and ending the match on the ensuing point, 29-27.

STANDOUT COUGARS
Kamille Gibson: 16 kills; .282 hitting percentage; 2 aces; 4 digs
Kalei Edson: 30 assists; 1 ace; 9 digs;
Noemi Despaigne: 9 kills, .192 hitting percentage; 2 digs

UP NEXT
The Cougars will play to loser of #3 Kentucky/#8 SMU at noon CT, tomorrow on ESPN2 to round its trip to The Bahamas.

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– UHCougars.com –