The volleyball team fell to 0-8 in conference play with their loss to ECU on Saturday. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
Football’s thrilling 38-31 victory at TDECU Stadium on Saturday night highlighted an action-packed weekend for Cougar athletics. Cross country and volleyball also continued their seasons with matchups over the weekend as well.
Football
The No. 13 Cougars held off a gritty University of Tulsa team to improve to 3-1 in American Athletic Conference play and 6-1 overall. The game was saved by tackling Golden Hurricane receiver Jesse Brubaker inches from the goal line to end the contest.
After twice going up by 14 points, the Cougar defense allowed Tulsa to tie it up. UH, however, responded when it mattered most.
Sophomore safety Garrett Davis knocked the ball out of Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans’ hands late in the game, and with the ball loose, Cougar sophomore linebacker Emeke Egbule picked up the fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
With starting running back Duke Catalon out due to a concussion, junior Dillon Birden had a career-game rushing for 82 yards while adding 3 touchdowns.
Cross country
The Cougars wrapped up their regular season at the Alabama Crimson Classic Friday night with the men’s team finishing 20th and women’s finishing 14th .
Sophomore G.J. Reyna picked up the top finish for the men’s team for the fourth time this season, finishing 27th overall in 25:33.2.
Redshirt freshman Kody Anderson (26:54.3) and redshirt junior Matthew Parmley (26:57.9) were next for the Cougars, finishing in 125th and 129th. Redshirt freshmen Alex Arnold and Nicholas Hamilton finished the scoring.
Redshirt senior Selena Sierra continued her strong 2016 campaign as she led all Cougars for the fourth time this season at 21:57.0, which was good for 48th overall. Senior Maddie Brown followed closely behind at 22:23.7 for 71st.
Emely Morgado and Jennifer Dunlap were next for the Cougars taking 98th (22:36.5) and 104th (22:49.2).
Sophomore Nikita Prasad rounded out the scoring in 131st with 23:16.2.
Volleyball
The Cougars were unable to pick up their first conference win of the season in a match that featured 31 ties. The team eventually fell to the East Carolina University Pirates in straight sets 3-0 (30-28, 28-26, 25-17) Saturday afternoon at the Athletics/Alumni Center.
The Cougars (5-14, 0-8) continued to work on finding their way offensively, being outhit by the Pirates .261 to .348 while recording 44 kills to ECU’s 53.
Junior outside hitter Brianna Lynch led all players with 13 kills. Freshman outside hitter Megan Duncan recorded eight kills after missing the previous match.
Junior setter Keandra McCardell tallied 18 assists.
