Houston Set To Take Winning Streak On Road At Temple, UConn

Press Release courtesy of Houston Athletics

The University of Houston Volleyball program continues American Athletic Conference play with a 6 p.m. CT match at Temple on Friday and an 11 a.m. CT tilt at UConn on Sunday.

AT THE NET

Houston at Temple*

Friday, Oct. 27 | 6 p.m. CT

McGonigle Hall | Philadelphia, Pa.

Live Stats | Live Stream

Houston at UConn*

Sunday, Oct. 29 | 11 a.m. CT

Guyer Gym | Storrs, Conn.

Live Stats | Live Stream

QUICK HITS

• The Cougars, who are 8-10 overall and 4-6 in The American, are coming off a 2-0 weekend with home wins over UCF, 3-1,on Fridayand USF, 3-0, on Sunday.
• Last week, sophomore libero Katie Karbo led Houston with 6.57 digs per set. Karbo had 29 digs against UCF and added 17 more versus USF to be named to The American Weekly Honor Roll, her second conference nod in 2017.
• Freshman setter Abby Irvine and senior outside hitter Sarah Afflerbaugh each posted two double-doubles to highlight the offense.
• Against USF, Houston recorded 50 kills and posted a .302 attack percentage. The 50 kills are the most for the Cougars in a three-set match on the season, while their .302 clip is the program’s highest efficiency in a conference match since joining The American.
• Houston leads The American and ranks 32nd in the nation in service aces per set (1.57).
• Karbo ranks third in the league and 21st in the NCAA in digs per set (5.41). Afflerbaugh (0.34) and senior middle blocker Brianna Gardner (0.32) rank third and fourth in The American in aces per set, respectively. Freshman Abby Irvine ranks second among freshmen in assists per set (6.24).
• Senior outsider hitter Brianna Lynch leads the Cougars in kills per set (2.79), while Gardner holds the top mark in blocks per set (0.90). Redshirt junior middle blocker Chenelle Walker leads the team in hitting percentage (.286).
• The Cougars, who are 29-59 all-time in The American, are 3-7 (Sets: 15-26) all-time and are 1-3 (Sets: 6-11) when visiting Temple. Houston is 5-4 (Sets: 18-17) all-time and is 1-3 (Sets: 5-11) in trips to Connecticut.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Temple

• The Owls enter Friday with an 8-2 conference record and 12-6 overall mark.
• Temple ranks second in The American in hitting percentage (.247), kills per set (13.78), assists per set (12.90) and blocks per set (2.43).
• Senior Kyra Coundourides ranks second in The American in assists per set (10.02). Seniors Janine Simmons (1.16) and Izzy Rapacz (1.08) rank fourth and sixth in the league in blocks per set, while Rapacz also ranks sixth in kills per set (3.55). Junior Mia Heirakuji ranks eighth in the league in digs per set (4.09).
• The Owls claimed a 3-2 win over the Cougars in Houston on Oct. 1.
• Temple is under the direction of seventh-year Head Coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam.
• The Owls were picked third in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

UConn

• The Huskies, who host Tulaneon Friday, are 3-7 in league play and 10-12 overall on the season.
• Sophomore Kayla Williams leads The American in aces per set (0.53) and ranks second in kills per set (4.01), while Junior Emma Turner ranks fourth in assists per set (9.87). Junior Kennedy Arundel leads the team in digs per set (3.78), while redshirt freshman Genna Florig holds the top mark in blocks per set (0.83).
• Houston swept UConn on Sept. 29 for its first conference win of 2017.
• Head Coach Kris Grunwald is in his fourth season at the helm of the Huskies and sixth overall as a head coach.
• UConn was tabbed seventh in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

UP NEXT

The Cougars will continue play in The American with home matches against SMU on Nov. 3 and Tulsa on Nov. 5.

SHASTA PASS

The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is once again proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2017-18 season. For just $80, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Volleyball, Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Softball home games.

The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial saving as single-game tickets start at $5 for all four sports. To purchase a Shasta Pass, call 713-GO-COOGS or Click Here.

STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter @UHCougarVB and “Like” /HoustonCougarVolleyball on Facebook. Houston Volleyball is now on Instagram as well at UHCougarVB.

JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB

Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. To find out more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GOUH.