Jones, Despaigne, Gibson, Lead Houston to Victory Over rv Kansas State

Sunday, September 27

Manhattan, Kan.

2:30 p.m.

University of Houston

8-5,1-1Big 12

rv Kansas State

9-1,1-1Big 12

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Houston	25	25	15	25	3
Kansas St.	23	21	25	20	1

Jones, Despaigne, Gibson, Lead Houston to Victory Over rv Kansas State

9/27/2026 5:49:00 PM | Volleyball

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Cougars use explosive offense to will past Wildcats

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Houston volleyball claimed its first conference win of the 2026 season in four sets against rv Kansas State, Sunday afternoon.

A three headed attack of juniors Kamille Gibson and Sydney Jones, and Sophomore Noemi Despiagne accounted for 49 kills leading Houston to a .282 hitting percentage, its highest in a Big 12 match since the team hit .380 against UCF (10/25/24).

Jones paced Houston with nine kills in a 25-23 set win for the Cougars. Nine kills ranks the most in a set by a Cougar this season. Both teams exchanged points early. With the Wildcats leading 6-5, four straight points by the Cougars flipped the advantage to a 10-6 Houston lead. Houston extended its lead to 19-15, until four unanswered points by Kansas State knotted the score at nineteen (19). Following a point by both sides, Jones willed Houston to a set win registering the final five kills for the Cougars stifling Kansas State's comeback attempt, 25-23.

The Cougars extended their lead in the match, claiming the second set, 25-21. Houston never trailed in the set, keeping the Wildcats at arm's reach. Houston's largest lead of the set turned six via an attacking error by Kansas State, turning the score, 17-11. Kansas State closed the gap to four with the score at 23-19, but the Cougars vanished any hopes of a late run, finishing the set 25-21.

Kansas State battled back, earning the third set, 25-15. The Wildcats used an efficient offense hitting .458 compared to Houston's .065 to quickly cut the match lead in half.

Houston put away the Wildcats in a 25-20 fourth set win using its highest hitting percentage of any set at .385. Gibson and Jones combined for 11 of the Cougars' 15 kills. A quick start propelled Houston to an early 10-6 lead. Followed by scoring four of the next six points, Houston grew its lead to 14-8. Kansas State narrowed the gap to three by an attack error from Houston, making the score 20-17. Using four kills and a block assisted by Despaigne and sophomore Tara Greenberry, Houston secured the fourth and final set 25-20, marking the first win of its 2026 Big 12 campaign.

STANDOUT COUGARS

Noemi Despaige: 13 kills; .556 hit percentage; 5 digs
Sydney Jones: 22 kills; .180 hit percentage; 2 digs
Kamille Gibson: 14 kills; .257 hit percentage; 5 digs
Kalei Edson: 47 assists; 4 blocks; 2 aces

UP NEXT
Houston returns to the Fertitta Center for its home conference opener and Greek Night, against Cincinnati on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. It will mark the 31^st meeting between the two programs.

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