Houston volleyball ends losing streak with five set fight against Tech

The Houston volleyball team achieved a season sweep against Texas Tech with a five-set win at United Supermarkets Arena on Wednesday night, 25-13, 19-25, 13-25, 25-18, 15-12. It was the Cougars’ first win since beating the Red Raiders on Sept. 27, before Houston went on a 14-match skid. 

Houston tied the school record with 20 blocks against the Red Raiders. It is the third time the Cougars have reached that mark under coach David Rehr, who first set the record against UCF in 2008. Redshirt senior middle blocker Barakat Rahmon dominated with 12 blocks, tying the fourth most by a Cougar in a five-set match. Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Wendel and senior outside hitter Avery Shimaitas chipped in a eight apiece, all for career highs.

Senior outside hitter Bre Reid delivered the most complete outing of the night, finishing with 16 kills and 18.5 points. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Gonzales posted a career high 12 digs and two aces, helping Houston control key stretches of the match. Freshman libero Gillian Pitts recorded double-digit

Houston won the final two sets to secure the victory after taking the opener. In the fifth set, Houston held its largest lead at the 14-10 mark, before a service error from freshman libero Gillian Pitts and a kill from sophomore outside hitter Addie Kanouff, who finished with 13 kills, put the Red Raiders within two. Reid put the match away with a kill, as the Cougars shared a post-match celebratory moment for the first time in nearly two months.

Houston opened the match with a strong performance, taking the first set behind efficient hitting and steady defense, 25-13. Gonzales sparked the offense with a .400 hitting percentage, while Pitts recorded five digs.

Texas Tech answered by taking the second set 25-19 as Houston struggled to maintain momentum. The Cougars’ offense stalled again in the third, hitting -.143 in a 25-13 loss.

Houston responded in the fourth set with renewed energy, hitting .237 and controlling play at the net. Shimaitis recorded two kills and three block assists. Reid added five kills on .308 hitting, and Rahmon contributed two more kills on .500 hitting. Senior setter Lottie Scully, who played for the first time since Nov. 6, totaled 12 assists and four digs, and Pitts led the defense with three digs and a perfect serve-receive percentage. Houston evened the match with a 25-18 win.

The Cougars carried that momentum into the fifth set, closing out the match with disciplined defense and timely scoring to secure the 3-2 victory.

Houston will play its regular-season finale against No. 20 TCU at Fertitta Center on Saturday, Nov. 29 and celebrate its seniors