Volleyball hosts SMU for Senior Day (W 3-1)

Last match of the year. Chance for Houston to not finish last by themselves as well as also finish above .500 with a win.

https://twitter.com/UHCougarVB/status/1065243433118416896

QUICK HITS

* The Cougars enter the weekend as one of the top serving teams in the country with their 175 service aces on the year, which ranks 23rd in the nation. That figure also gives Houston the top spot in The American in that category.
* Houston’s record this season has been attributed to the balanced attack the Cougars have received from a number of players. With 34 total double-doubles on the year, four different Cougars have recorded double-doubles, with at least one player reaching that mark in all but three conference contests. Overall, Houston has had multiple players record a double-double in the same match 10 times this season.
* On more than one occasion, the Cougars have seen many of their players step up on both the offensive and defensive end. Houston has had three players reach the double-digit kill mark in the same match nine times this season, while four Cougars have surpassed the double-digit plateau in the same contest twice. Defensively, the Cougars have had 18 matches in which at least two players recorded 10 or more digs, including 13 matches with three players accomplishing that task.
* As one of the best liberos in the country, junior Katie Karbo has anchored the Cougar defense with her 632 digs this season that ranks second in The American and 13th in the country. On average, she digs 5.27 balls a set, which is fourth-best in the conference.
* To begin the 2018 campaign, the Cougars put together one of their best starts in program history, finishing non-conference play with a 13-2 record. Houston’s undefeated, 8-0, record to start the season was also a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1987.
* During that 15-game stretch, Houston garnered its share of All-Tournament honors, racking in a total of eight All-Tournament accolades during non-conference action. Senior setter Katie Krebs and junior outside hitter Megan Duncan earned MVP honors, while Karbo, junior outside hitter Faith Squier and freshman Kendall Haywood each found a spot on an All-Tournament twice.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

* With the victory, Houston head coach Kaddie Platt has 200 career conference wins in her as a head coach.
* Houston recorded more kills than SMU in the match, finishing the afternoon with 54 kills compared to the Mustangs’ 48. It’s the third time in as many contests that Houston has posted more kills than its opponent.
* The 81 digs Houston recorded is the second-most in a four-set match this season.
* Everyone that recorded an attack for Houston also tallied at least one kill.
* The Cougars out-blocked the Mustangs 13.0-3.0. The 13.0 blocks is the most blocks Houston has posted in a four-set match this season.
* Senior setter Katie Krebs recorded 19 assists and six digs in her final contest with the Cougars, while senior middle blocker Chenelle Walker tallied five kills and three blocks in her final match.
* Junior outside hitter Faith Squier recorded six kills and three blocks, competing in her final match as a Cougar.
* Freshman middle blocker Kendall Haywood blocked a career-high nine balls, posting a career-high four solo blocks in the process.

The win, coupled with a Memphis loss, ensured that Houston didn’t finish last in the conference by itself.

Also meant that the Cougars finished with a winning record for the first time since 2015.

The strange thing about this season is that the Cougars were #151 in RPI prior to this week which is in the top half of the NCAA. So, was the American Athletic Conference really that strong this season?

In any case, congrats to Coach Platt and the the seniors for going out winners

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