UH fell for the first time in American Athletic Conference play against Louisville in three sets (19-25, 24-26, 16-25) Sunday afternoon at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
The Cougars (10-8, 3-1) led for the first half after set one, but Louisville (8-6, 4-0) tied the game six times, allowing them to take the lead at the end. With the Cougars up 13-9, the Cardinals used their first timeout of the set. The Cougars were on fire, hitting .800 at the time. Louisville came back on a 10-4 run.
In the second set, it was a stalemate; both teams rallied point-for-point. The Cougars forced the set into extra points, ending 24-26 heading into the break. Louisville would then force 10 hitting errors by the Cougars.
Freshman outside hitter Sarita Mikals led the way for the Cougars, recording her sixth double double of the season with 12 kills and 13 digs.
Louisville’s freshman outside hitter Maya McClendon had 15 kills and 16 digs against the Cougars. Middle blocker Randi Ewing had 10 kills in 11 attempts against the Cougars, a .909 hitting percentage.
Volunteer work
The Cougars’ swimming team volunteered for the Special Olympics Texas at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center on Sunday.
UH joined participants in mixed-relay teams. Following several races, the student athletes handed the spotlight back to the participants, serving as timers, coaches and escorts.
“The event has grown to include so many more athletes and we’re so happy that the University, UH swimming and diving, the Campus Rec can offer our ability to help,” said head diving coach Jane Figueiredo. “The participants had such a great time and it helps our girls appreciate the little things in life and how great it is to give back.”
Both Figueiredo and swimming coach Rich Murphy were honored by the Special Olympics Texas staff for their work before the meet got underway.
Golf
UH golfers James Ross, a redshirt senior, and Roman Robledo, a junior, each finished among the top 10 individual leaders to lead the Cougars on Sunday in the final round of the David Toms Intercollegiate.
Ross stroked a 1-under-par 71 Sunday to finish sixth at 216. Robledo fired a 72 to move into a tie for 10th at 218 on the 7,663-yard, par-72 course at the University Club.
Ross hit four birdies in his round, including three during the final eight holes — his best finish this season, topping his seventh-place showing at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in September.
Robledo overcame a slow start. Although he had a bogey in three of his first four holes, he put his scorecard back to par with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 6-8. After a double bogey on the 10th hole, Robledo birdied No. 11 and added his fifth and final birdie on the 17th hole to finish the day at par.
As a team, the Cougars slipped to fifth with a two-day, 54-hole score of 882 — their first finish outside the top three this fall.
Two other Cougars finished among the top 25 leaders. Senior Curtis Reed tied for 21st at 222, and junior Kyle Pilgrim — champion of the Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic last week – tied for 25th at 223.
Southeastern Louisiana won the team title with a score of 860 to finish 16 strokes in front of Iowa State. Kennesaw State finished third at 880, and Louisiana-Lafayette placed fourth at 881.
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