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Cougars fall to conference leaders

In the final home game of the 2014 season, Houston hosted conference leaders UCF Sunday afternoon. The Cougars came out strong, but could not keep up with the Knights (23-7, 16-2) and fell 1-3 in four sets (20-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-25).

With two road games to go, the Coogs currently sit at 14-16 overall and 6-12 in the American Athletic Conference.

Coming into a tough match-up, the Cougars wanted to make a statement in the last home game for many seniors on the team.

“I felt like we were underestimated,” said senior outside hitter Courtney Warren; “but we went in there and at some moments we showed that we are a better team.”

Both teams came out with a lot of intensity and played hard to open the match. Houston played great team ball, coming up with four team blocks and matching the powerful Knights’ offense blow for blow.

After a neck and neck battle throughout most of the set however, UCF took the set 25-20. The Knights carried over their momentum into the second set as their potent offense handled the Cougar defense, posting a team hitting average of .480.

Houston, on the other hand, was plagued by errors, with eight attack and two service errors. Unable to find any answers, UCF took the set easily, 25-14.

With their backs against the wall, the Cougar offense came alive in the third set. With a great showing from both senior outside hitter Kadi KullerKann and Courtney Warren, Houston was able to pull away from the Knights.

Warren in particular, got red hot late in the game, posting six kills in nine attempts for a .667 average in the third set.

“I have to be a game changer, I have to go in and be clutch for our team,” Warren said. “There wasn’t anyone that I felt who could beat me at that moment, so I just kept pushing it.”

Despite UCF creeping back into contention at the end, Houston was able to put the set away 25-22 with consecutive kills by Kullerkann and Warren.

In the fourth set, UCF seemed to catch fire and Houston quickly found themselves down 1-9 early. The Cougar defense showed great hustle and produced some amazing volleys to stay competitive.

“We kept it off the floor,” head coach Kaddie Platt said of the defensive effort. “That’s what you have to do every point if you’re going to be in a place to beat these guys.”

In the end, effort wouldn’t be enough as the conference leading Knights showed exactly why they are in that position. Never letting the Cougars back into it, the Knights rolled to a 25-15 win to take both the set and the match.

Warren led the team with 16 kills, hitting .424 and two blocks. Kullerkann followed with 13 kills, picking up her 30th consecutive game with double-digit kills.

Senior libero Natalie Keck notched 15 digs and had a perfect reception percentage against the UCF Knights. With 597 digs on the year, she now has the third most digs in a single season for a Cougar player.

Following the game, seniors Natalie Keck, Kadi Kullerkann, Cortney Warren, Kaiti Waters and student manager Taylor Whileyman were honored in front of friends and family.

“It’s been an amazing ride,” Kullerkann said of her time at UH. “I wouldn’t be where I am right now without Houston, so I am forever grateful for this program.”

The Cougars’ next match will be on the road against the UConn Huskies (10-19, 3-15) on Wednesday to start their final road series.

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