HOUSTON\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The University of Houston Volleyball team\u00a0emerged\u00a0victorious\u00a0in\u00a0two matches\u00a0on Thursday over Texas Southern and Abilene Christian to begin its Houston Invitational.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GAME ONE VS TEXAS SOUTHERN\u00a0<\/p>\n
Junior Kalei Edison led the way on offense with 42 assists, while junior Sydney Jones<\/a> led the team with 13 kills. On the defensive side, junior Lily Barron<\/a> and sophomore Mattie Casale<\/a> paced\u00a0the team with 12 digs\u00a0each.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston started strong with an early 7-0 run, extending the lead to\u00a0eight\u00a0to take a 12-4 lead. Texas Southern responded with a 5-0 run of their own, but Houston would hold onto a lead late, using a late 5-0 run to take the first set, 25-16.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The second\u00a0set\u00a0was back and forth as both teams traded the lead with four ties early. Houston would go on a 3-0 run to take a lead, and\u00a0another 5-0 run by Houston\u00a0took the Cougars\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0media\u00a0timeout\u00a0with a\u00a015-7\u00a0lead. The run would extend to 9-0, with Houston going up by as much as 14, and\u00a0ultimately closing\u00a0the second set at 25-14.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston\u00a0kept\u00a0its momentum\u00a0going\u00a0with a\u00a05-0\u00a0run\u00a0pulling ahead to an early\u00a07-3 lead to begin the third set.\u00a0Texas\u00a0Southern would battle back using a\u00a03-0 run\u00a0to take a 19-18 lead.\u00a0However, Houston would go on a crucial 3-0 run late to reclaim the lead and eventually secure the third set, 25-23.\u00a0<\/p>\n GAME TWO VS ABILENE\u00a0CHRISTIAN\u00a0<\/p>\n The Cougars battled\u00a0to\u00a0a five-set victory over the Wildcats, rallying behind Casale’s 24 digs and\u00a0a double-double by junior Kamille Gibson<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston stamped its mark on the first set\u00a0hitting .321 with\u00a0Jones leading the team with four kills in the set. After the Cougars took a 7-6 lead early in the set,\u00a0a pair of 4-0 runs extending the lead\u00a0eventually\u00a0claiming the set 25-13.\u00a0<\/p>\n A strong defensive performance in the second set\u00a0highlighted by four team blocks and 18 digs extended the Cougars lead in the match to 2-0.\u00a0Houston never trailed in the set, with the set ending on Jones’ fifth kill of the\u00a0set.\u00a0<\/p>\n Abilene Christian would cut the lead in half hitting a scorching .483 in a tight set that saw the\u00a0Wildcats\u00a0edge the Cougars 25-23\u00a0making the score 2-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wildcats would continue\u00a0its\u00a0momentum into the fourth set behind\u00a0junior Maddie Finnegan’s six kills. In a set where neither team could extend a lead beyond two points,\u00a0the Wildcats edged out a 28-26 set win behind\u00a0consecutive kills from junior Avery Thaler and Finnegan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following an Abilene Christian point to start the fifth set, the Cougars gained control of\u00a0the\u00a0set\u00a0by way of a 4-0 run. Houston would not relinquish its lead with Edson ending the match with an ace winning the final set 15-12.<\/p>\n STANDOUT COUGARS\u00a0(Stats accumulated from both games)\u00a0<\/p>\n UP NEXT\u00a0 SUPPORT YOUR COOGS\u00a0<\/p>\n Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by\u202fproviding<\/a> NIL <\/a>opportunities<\/a>\u202for by\u202fjoining the\u202fPoint<\/a> Houston <\/a>Club<\/a>\u202fwhich provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n STAY CONNECTED\u00a0 \u2013 UHCougars.com \u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nHouston closes the Houston Invitational against Houston Christian at 6:30 p.m., Friday.\u00a0Fans are encouraged to dress like\u00a0royalty for Princess Night at the Fertitta Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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