{"id":481941,"date":"2026-10-31T01:14:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T01:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/481941\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T01:14:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T01:14:28","slug":"stellar-defense-propels-cougars-past-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/481941\/","title":{"rendered":"Stellar Defense Propels Cougars Past Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

TUCSON, Ariz.\u00a0\u2013 The University of Houston Volleyball team swept Arizona on Friday afternoon inside the McKale Center. It marks the first conference sweep on the road since Nov. 6, 2024, when the team took on Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.\u00a0\u00a0
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\nJunior Sydney Jones<\/a> paced the Cougars with 19 kills. Sophomore Gillian Pitts<\/a> lead the team in digs tallying 18. Her 6.00 digs per set is the highest in a single match by any Cougar this season. Freshman setter Shannon Dworaczyk<\/a> tallied 44 assists, averaging over 14 a set.\u00a0
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\nDespaigne led the Cougars in the first set, pacing the squad with seven kills. Pitts registered nine digs, a season set high. Houston controlled most of the first with the Cougars never trailing in the set. At the media break, Houston led 15-11. The Cougars extended its lead to six forcing an Arizona timeout at 17-11. With Houston leading 21-15, the Wildcats narrowed the deficit using a 4-0 to bring the score within two. Houston won the tightly contested set 25-23 with a Despaigne kill closing the set.\u00a0
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\nNeither team stretched a lead early with nine ties to start the set. With Houston leading 11-10, Arizona utilized a 5-1 run, taking a 15-12 advantage into the media timeout. With Arizona leading 19-16, Houston scored four unanswered points, flipping the lead to 20-19 for the Cougars. Houston reached its first set point at 24-22, before Arizona fended off Houston attacks to tie the set at 24. Arizona proceeded to create three set points of their own forcing Houston on the backfoot. With Arizona leading 27-26, three points in a row by the Cougars clinched the second set, 29-27.
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\nHouston stepped up its offense in the final set, hitting .367 winning the set, 25-19. Jones recorded 10 kills in the set, the most by a Cougar in a set this season. The Cougars kickstarted the set on a 4-1 run, handing them the early advantage. The Wildcats clawed back to take a 10-8 lead. Houston answered taking a 15-13 lead into the media timeout. Houston extended the lead, using a Jones ace to finish the final set 25-19.\u00a0
\nSTANDOUT COUGARS:<\/p>\n


\n\tShannon Dworaczyk<\/a>: 44 assists
\n\tNoemi Despaige: 14 kills; .258 hit percentage; 2 blocks; 3 digs
\n\tGillian Pitts<\/a>: 18 digs, 6.00 digs per set, 1 ace
\n\tSydney Jones<\/a>: 19 kills; 2 aces; 10 kills in set 3 (Highest by a Cougar this season) <\/p>\n

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\nUP NEXT
\nHouston remains in Arizona to face off against #10 Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. On Sunday afternoon. The match marks the sixth ranked opponent the Cougars played this season.\u00a0
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\nSUPPORT YOUR COOGS
\nFans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by\u00a0providing NIL opportunities<\/a>\u00a0or by\u00a0joining the\u00a0Point Houston Club<\/a>\u00a0which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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\nSTAY CONNECTED
\nFans can receive updates by following\u00a0@UHCougarVB<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking\u00a0LIKE\u00a0on the team’s Facebook page at\u00a0UHCougarVB<\/a>.\u00a0Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at\u00a0@UHCougarVB<\/a>.
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\u2013 UHCougars.com \u2013<\/p>\n