Sports Volleyball

UH volleyball opens conference play at UConn

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After finishing 5-6 in non-conference action, the Cougars will begin conference play against University of Connecticut Huskies. | File photo/The Cougar

The UH women’s volleyball team will get a fresh start when they begin American Athletic Conference play on Friday after closing out their non-conference schedule with four losses in their last five games.

In the conference season opener, the Cougars will hit the road to take on the University of Connecticut Huskies, who enter the match with a 9-2 record.

This marks the first time since joining the conference that the Cougars begin conference play with a losing record.

It will depend on what the Cougars can do in the next 20 games that will determine whether they play beyond the regular season.

In two meetings with the Huskies last season, the Cougars went 1-1. They dropped the first game at UConn in straight sets before coming back home two weeks later and winning in four.

Last year, the Huskies finished one game ahead of the Cougars in the conference standings. They return 12 players, including senior outside hitter Jade Strawberry, who won the conference’s all-second team honors.

The Cougars face a Huskies’ offensive front that averages 14.82 kills per game, which is fifth in the nation. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Kayla Williams leads the team with 159 kills over 11 matches.

UConn is an efficient attacking team as well. They have three players who own over a .300 kill percentage.

UH will have to rely on a young defensive front that is only averaging 1.47 blocks per set. Sophomore middle blocker Chenelle Walker leads the Cougars with 31 blocks on the year. Walker is also one of only two players who have started in all 11 matches this season.

Another key to the game for the Cougars will be their ability to serve the ball and score points off of aces. The Cougars are second in the conference in service aces with 1.27 per set. Freshman defensive specialist Katie Karbo leads the team with 14 aces, although four other players have at least 10.

UH is 4-2 in the all-time series against the Huskies and is 2-1 in conference season openers under head coach Kaddie Platt.

After the game, the Cougars will have a quick turnaround as they head to Philadelphia to take on the Temple University Owls on Sunday at noon.

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