Senior outside hitter Ingrida Zauere is second on the team with 78 digs. She also has 55 kills on the year. | Emily Chambers/The Daily Cougar
After back-to-back weeks on the road, the Cougars will return home Tuesday to face Lamar University at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
UH (6-3) enters the match returning from a successful weekend at the UK Invitational in which they won two of three matches, dropping only one contest against the hosting Kentucky Wildcats in four sets.
Arriving from Lexington, Ky., early Sunday morning, the Cougars will face a brief 48-hour resting period between matches, leaving little time for practice.
“It’s a quick turnaround,” head coach Molly Alvey said.
“We only have one day of rest, then practice Monday. We’ve got to come out prepared to play, and ready to take care of business.”
With a spotless 3-0 record on their home court, the Cougars will look to further solidify their dominance at home and build a winning streak heading into conference play starting next week.
At the start of the year, Alvey challenged her players to make the Athletics/Alumni Center a gym opponents would leave empty-handed.
The Cougars will have the opportunity to continue to make good on that challenge Tuesday with the struggling Cardinals.
“We’re expecting a good turnout,” Alvey said. “Our crowd’s going to be there getting us pumped up and ready to go.”
The Cardinals will enter the matchup on a nine-game skid after falling to Baylor, UTEP and Mississippi State without claiming a set at the MCM Elegante’ Invitational.
The three straight-set losses mark the eighth time Lamar has been swept.
Tuesday’s match will mark UH’s last non-conference game before beginning action against Conference USA opponents.
Through three early season tournaments, juniors Katie Norris and Stephanie Nwachukwu lead the team in offensive numbers with 93 and 91 kills respectively.
At right sider hitter, Nwachukwu tied a career high with 15 kills against Kentucky in Saturday’s loss.
The Cougars will open C-USA play against the Rice Owls on Sept. 20. First serve against the crosstown rivals is set for 7 p.m. at Tudor Fieldhouse.
