NORMAN, Okla. – Senior outside hitter Kortlyn Henderson recorded 13 shots with nine blocks to lead the University of Houston volleyball program to a 3-2 win over Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Invitational Indoor Championship . McCasland Field House Saturday night
Houston jumped to a 2-0 lead in the game before stopping the pesky Sooners. With the victory, the Cougars completed a perfect weekend and moved to 3-0, while Oklahoma fell to 0-3. Lipscomb and Oregon State tied for second with records of 1-1.
Junior outside attacker Abbie Jackson and senior outside attacker Kennedy Warren finished with 12 attacks each, while second-year point guard Annie Cooke finished with 44 assists and added seven digs with two blocks and two service aces. Sophomore Kate Georgiades led the way with 18 excavations.
In the first set, both teams were tied 18-18 before the Cougars used an Oklahoma service error and an ace from junior defensive specialist Sarah Martinez to take a 20-18 lead. The two teams exchanged points before Oklahoma moved to 21-20 with a kill by Kristen Birmingham.
Fortunately, senior central blocker Isabel Theut and Abbie Jackson fired kills to give the Cougars a 24-21 lead, and Warren sealed the first set for the Cougars.
In the second set, the Cougars took a 6-0 lead after a pair of Cooke's service aces, a Henderson kill, and three Oklahoma blunders. The Sooners came within no more than three the rest of the way.
Oklahoma rallied to win the next two sets and force a decisive fifth set. In the final draw, Houston jumped to an early 4-1 lead, thanks to a Henderson kill and blocks by Henderson, junior central blocker Rachel Tullos and Warren.
The Sooner closed the gap to 4-3, but the Cougars scored five of the next six points to take a 9-4 lead. Jackson led the rally with two kills and a block, while Henderson and Tullos each added.
Oklahoma continued to fight and tied the game at 13-13 following a Houston error. However, Warren's subsequent death gave the Cougars the ultimate advantage, and Jackson ended the match with his last kill of the night.
Savannah Davidson of Oklahoma led all players with 29 attacks, while Megan Wilson finished with 19 attacks. Peyton Dunn totaled 50 assists with 14 digs, while Callie Kemohah led the Sooners with 23 digs.
UP NEXT
After the Oklahoma Invitational, the Cougars return home and open their local schedule when they host the Flo Hyman Invitational inside the Fertitta Center.
The Cougars face the state of Mississippi in 6:30 pm, Friday before facing McNeese (11 am) and ULM (6:30 pm) on September 4.
BUY TICKETS
Fans can purchase Houston volleyball tickets by calling 713-462-6647 or by clicking here . The 32-game schedule includes 13 contests within the Fertitta Center, which returns to full capacity in 2021.
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support Houston's volleyball program by joining Club Point HOUSTON. For more information on the Point HOUSTON Club, fans can click here or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
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