West Virginia Volleyball (9-5, 2-2) started Sunday’s match against Houston on the right foot, but the Cougars took control after the opening set and came away with a 3-1 win at Hope Coliseum.
Houston won the final three sets, 18-25, 20-25 and 23-25, after WVU took the first set, 25-21.
The loss drops the Mountaineers to 9-5 on the season and 2-2 in Big 12 play. Houston improves to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Read more: WVU Volleyball falls to Houston in four sets.
West Virginia also had a couple of new faces in the starting lineup. Freshman middle blocker Cami Huff and freshman outside hitter Saar Bertels made their first starts of the season, while graduate student Sophia Fallah saw her first action.
WVU takes the first set, Houston responds
The Mountaineers had one of their better offensive sets to start the match, hitting .382 with 16 kills.
WVU took an 11-8 lead after three service aces from senior middle blocker Maddy McGath and held the advantage as the set went on.
The Mountaineers led 21-17 before senior outside hitter Nina Horning finished the set with a kill to give WVU the early lead.
Horning had seven kills on 13 attacks in the opening set, while Anna Barr added two kills.
Houston answered in the second set.
The Cougars jumped out to a 10-4 lead, but WVU battled back and eventually tied the set at 15-15.
Houston then put together a 6-0 run to create some separation. The Cougars held on from there, winning the set 25-18 and tying the match at one set apiece.
Houston kept that momentum going in the third.
The Cougars took a 9-5 lead and later pushed the advantage to 16-6. WVU made a late rally, putting together an 11-2 run to get within four points at 23-19.
Eily Painter recorded two service aces during the run, but Houston was able to finish off the set 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead.
Mountaineers make a late push
The fourth set stayed close early.
WVU held a 12-11 lead before Houston scored three straight points to move ahead 14-12. The Cougars built their lead and eventually went up 22-16.
That did not stop the Mountaineers from making one final push.
WVU scored six of the next seven points to cut Houston’s lead to one. Horning followed with a kill to make it 23-21 before McGath and Barr teamed up for a block to bring the Mountaineers within another point at 23-22.
Houston, however, got the final two points it needed. Kamille Gibson ended the match with a kill, giving the Cougars a 25-23 fourth-set win.
Barr finished with a team-high 13 kills while hitting .393 on 28 attacks. Horning added 12 kills, six digs and a block.
McGath finished with four kills, four aces, three digs and two blocks, while senior setter Alexis Finnvold had 27 assists and eight digs.
Reagan Turk led WVU defensively with 12 digs. Painter added two service aces as the Mountaineers finished with seven as a team and five total blocks.
Houston was led by Sydney Jones, who had 24 kills while hitting .442. Gibson finished with 14 kills and 17 points, while Noemi Despaigne added 15 kills.
The Mountaineers are now 1-6 all-time against Houston, while WVU head coach Jen Greeny is 1-2 against the Cougars.
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