Saturday, January 23
Houston
2 p.m.
University of Houston
at
Rice
Houston Opens Season with Home-and-Home Against Rice
1/22/2021 11:19:00 AM | Volleyball
Cougars begin 2021 spring campaign with crosstown matchup
HOUSTON – After spending more than entire calendar year off the floor, the University of Houston Volleyball team is ready to return to action when the Cougars face Rice in a home-and-home series Saturday and Sunday.
This will be the first regular season matchup between the two teams since Sept. 17, 2016, when Rice took down Houston 3-0. In their all-time series with the Owls, the Cougars lead 62-19, having won four of the previous six battles with their crosstown opponent.
OPENING WEEKEND
Saturday, Jan. 23
Tullos' Tools
After emerging as a prolific defender a year ago, Houston sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos was named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Lantana, Texas, native wasted no time making a name for herself in her freshman season, becoming one of the best blockers in the nation in 2019. She not only led the league in total blocks (186) and blocks per set (1.37), but her 62 solo stops led all other Division I players, with the next closest being 42.
Last season also saw Tullos set new standards for the conference as well, shattering the league record for total blocks in a five-set match with 17. The previous record was 13. She would later be awarded The American Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the only non-libero to win the honor in 2019.
As result of her rookie campaign, at the end of the season, Tullos was named to the All-Conference Second Team and Volleyballmag.com's Freshman All-America Honorable Mention.
Abby's Road to Recovery
Following a season-ending ACL injury last year, senior defensive specialist Abby Irvine is back for her final season. Prior to her injury, Irvine was a staple on the court for Houston, posting a team-high 15 double-doubles and dishing out 909 assists, both which were marks that led the conference at the time of her injury.
Irvine's leadership both on and off the floor has proven valuable to the team and something that Head Coach David Rehr has been waiting to have back, referring to her as a rock that brings stability to the program, saying "That's what makes her different and that's why I love having her as one of our leaders. The team is first for her – always."
New Faces, Same Expectations
With the departure of 10 student-athletes from the 2019 squad, Houston welcomes new faces to the program that will look to make an impact immediately.
A transfer from Iowa Western CC, junior outside hitter Kortlyn Henderson spent her two seasons at Iowa Western averaging 3.95 kills per set, including a 4.31 mark in her final season with the Reivers.
She is joined by sophomore outside hitter Celeste Darling, a transfer from Louisiana who finished her rookie campaign in 2019 making an appearance in 28 of the Rajin Cajun's 30 contests, earning a Sun Belt Conference POW accolade in the process.
Also new to the program are freshmen Annie Cooke and Sarah Martinez. As someone vying for the team's setting spot, Cooke will command the Cougars' offense, while Martinez anchors down the back row.
Back for Round Two
After a magical 2019 campaign that consisted of the program's first postseason appearance since 2000, the Cougars have 11 members back who are primed to build on that success. Returning to Houston's rotation is sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jackson, who is looking to continue to making an impact within the conference, after a promising freshman campaign.
Joining Jackson in the rotation is junior middle blocker Isabel Theut, seeking to build on her experience, having appeared in all 141 sets for the Cougars in 2019. In the back row is junior libero Torie Frederick, looking to lead the charge with the defense.
I've Got 5 on It
With a record of 8-6 in five-set matches last season, Houston was no stranger when it came to going the distance, as the Cougars' 14 five-set contests on the year were some of the most in the nation.
At one point in the 2019 campaign, the Cougars strung together six-straight five-set matches, having come out on top in five of those contests. Of Houston's eight five-set victories last season, six came in come-from-behind fashion, where the Cougars either trailed 0-2 or 1-2 in the match.
Play It Tough
Despite a condensed spring schedule, consisted of limited nonconference matchups, Houston still managed to find opponents outside of the American Athletic Conference that will prepare the Cougars for league action. Among those nonconference contests will be a pair of Big 12 opponents between Texas Tech and perennial national powerhouse Baylor, the No. 1 overall seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Despite falling to the Lady Bears last season, Houston managed to take one set from Baylor, which was only the second time an opponent had done so at the time the two teams faced each other. The Cougars also faced the Red Raiders in 2019, putting together a competitive four-set match against Texas Tech.
#BeSomeone
In June of 2020, the Houston Volleyball program committed itself to make change regarding the issues of social injustice and on Sept. 5, 2020, the public saw that action take place. Organized by juniors Alexis Cheatum and Torie Frederick, a student-athlete-led march across the University of Houston campus was put together to raise awareness about racial inequalities and the fight to make a difference.
Throughout the fall, Cheatum continued to #BeSomeone and worked with local leaders like Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to encourage others to exercise their right to vote in order to make the change they wish to see.
As a result of Houston's efforts to be vocal advocates in the community, the Cougars earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Community Voting award. Houston was the only team from The American Athletic Conference to earn the accolade.
(Virtual) Classroom Success
For the second time in as many semesters, the Cougars surpassed the 3.45 team GPA plateau, earning a 3.46 GPA during the 2020 fall semester.
Hurdled with the challenges of adapting to new academic environments, which mainly consisted of remote learning and taking courses online, the Cougars also saw eight student-athletes with their names appearing on the Dean's List.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarVB, and "Like" UHCougarVB on Facebook.
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.
– UHCougars.com –
This will be the first regular season matchup between the two teams since Sept. 17, 2016, when Rice took down Houston 3-0. In their all-time series with the Owls, the Cougars lead 62-19, having won four of the previous six battles with their crosstown opponent.
Saturday, Jan. 23
- 2 p.m. | Houston at Rice | Live Stats | Watch
- 2 p.m. | Rice at Houston | Live Stats | Watch
- In the remarkable year that was the 2019 conference season, Houston began American Athletic Conference play 7-0, before dropping its contest in the five-set thriller with Cincinnati. The undefeated marked, along with the 7-1 record, were both the first since 2000.
- Houston was the only school in The American last season to have more than two players win a Player of the Week honor, having won four. Sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jackson and sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos are two of the Cougars from last year's team to earn a POW and return to the lineup seeking to continue making an impact around the conference.
- When David Rehr was the named the 2019 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, he became just the fourth coach in program history and first since 1994 to receive such an honor. In just one season, Rehr took a team that won four conference games in 2018 and cashed in 10 league victories in 2019, the most since 2013. Rehr has won a Conference Coach of the Year accolade three times in the past five seasons.
Tullos' Tools
After emerging as a prolific defender a year ago, Houston sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos was named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Lantana, Texas, native wasted no time making a name for herself in her freshman season, becoming one of the best blockers in the nation in 2019. She not only led the league in total blocks (186) and blocks per set (1.37), but her 62 solo stops led all other Division I players, with the next closest being 42.
Last season also saw Tullos set new standards for the conference as well, shattering the league record for total blocks in a five-set match with 17. The previous record was 13. She would later be awarded The American Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the only non-libero to win the honor in 2019.
As result of her rookie campaign, at the end of the season, Tullos was named to the All-Conference Second Team and Volleyballmag.com's Freshman All-America Honorable Mention.
Abby's Road to Recovery
Following a season-ending ACL injury last year, senior defensive specialist Abby Irvine is back for her final season. Prior to her injury, Irvine was a staple on the court for Houston, posting a team-high 15 double-doubles and dishing out 909 assists, both which were marks that led the conference at the time of her injury.
Irvine's leadership both on and off the floor has proven valuable to the team and something that Head Coach David Rehr has been waiting to have back, referring to her as a rock that brings stability to the program, saying "That's what makes her different and that's why I love having her as one of our leaders. The team is first for her – always."
New Faces, Same Expectations
With the departure of 10 student-athletes from the 2019 squad, Houston welcomes new faces to the program that will look to make an impact immediately.
A transfer from Iowa Western CC, junior outside hitter Kortlyn Henderson spent her two seasons at Iowa Western averaging 3.95 kills per set, including a 4.31 mark in her final season with the Reivers.
She is joined by sophomore outside hitter Celeste Darling, a transfer from Louisiana who finished her rookie campaign in 2019 making an appearance in 28 of the Rajin Cajun's 30 contests, earning a Sun Belt Conference POW accolade in the process.
Also new to the program are freshmen Annie Cooke and Sarah Martinez. As someone vying for the team's setting spot, Cooke will command the Cougars' offense, while Martinez anchors down the back row.
Back for Round Two
After a magical 2019 campaign that consisted of the program's first postseason appearance since 2000, the Cougars have 11 members back who are primed to build on that success. Returning to Houston's rotation is sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jackson, who is looking to continue to making an impact within the conference, after a promising freshman campaign.
Joining Jackson in the rotation is junior middle blocker Isabel Theut, seeking to build on her experience, having appeared in all 141 sets for the Cougars in 2019. In the back row is junior libero Torie Frederick, looking to lead the charge with the defense.
I've Got 5 on It
With a record of 8-6 in five-set matches last season, Houston was no stranger when it came to going the distance, as the Cougars' 14 five-set contests on the year were some of the most in the nation.
At one point in the 2019 campaign, the Cougars strung together six-straight five-set matches, having come out on top in five of those contests. Of Houston's eight five-set victories last season, six came in come-from-behind fashion, where the Cougars either trailed 0-2 or 1-2 in the match.
Play It Tough
Despite a condensed spring schedule, consisted of limited nonconference matchups, Houston still managed to find opponents outside of the American Athletic Conference that will prepare the Cougars for league action. Among those nonconference contests will be a pair of Big 12 opponents between Texas Tech and perennial national powerhouse Baylor, the No. 1 overall seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Despite falling to the Lady Bears last season, Houston managed to take one set from Baylor, which was only the second time an opponent had done so at the time the two teams faced each other. The Cougars also faced the Red Raiders in 2019, putting together a competitive four-set match against Texas Tech.
#BeSomeone
In June of 2020, the Houston Volleyball program committed itself to make change regarding the issues of social injustice and on Sept. 5, 2020, the public saw that action take place. Organized by juniors Alexis Cheatum and Torie Frederick, a student-athlete-led march across the University of Houston campus was put together to raise awareness about racial inequalities and the fight to make a difference.
Throughout the fall, Cheatum continued to #BeSomeone and worked with local leaders like Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to encourage others to exercise their right to vote in order to make the change they wish to see.
As a result of Houston's efforts to be vocal advocates in the community, the Cougars earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Community Voting award. Houston was the only team from The American Athletic Conference to earn the accolade.
(Virtual) Classroom Success
For the second time in as many semesters, the Cougars surpassed the 3.45 team GPA plateau, earning a 3.46 GPA during the 2020 fall semester.
Hurdled with the challenges of adapting to new academic environments, which mainly consisted of remote learning and taking courses online, the Cougars also saw eight student-athletes with their names appearing on the Dean's List.
Follow Houston Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarVB, and "Like" UHCougarVB on Facebook.
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.
– UHCougars.com –