9/5/04

Volleyball Preview: Houston

	Complete Version

MATCH #4
Texas (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Houston (1-2, 0-0 Conference USA)
When: Tuesday, September 7, 7 p.m. Central
Where: Houston, Texas (Athletics/Alumni Center)
All-Time Series Record: Texas leads, 40-16
Series Streaks: UT won the last meeting and has won nine of the last 10 meetings
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2003; a 3-0 (30-20, 30-23, 30-22) Texas victory in Austin
Last UT Victory: same
Last Houston Victory: Sept. 30, 2000; a 3-1 (17-15, 10-15, 15-11, 15-12) victory in Houston
Elliott vs. Houston: 1-0

Quick Sets
The Longhorns are 3-0 to open a season for the first time since the 2001 season when the team went 4-0 to start the year.
Senior Mira Topic earned MVP honors at the SMU Invitational last weekend after leading the team with 45 kills (5.00 kills/game), 37 digs (4.11 digs/game) and two double-doubles in the three-match tournament. Topic also led UT with a .458 hitting percentage (45 kills-12 errors-72 attacks) in nine games.
Sophomore Brandy Magee joined Topic on the all-tournament team after collecting 30 kills and averaging 3.33 kills/game in nine games in Dallas. She also led Texas with eight blocks (one solo and seven block assists).
Senior Bethany Howden moved into fourth place on the Texas career kills list and now has 1,417 after connecting for 35 kills in seven games this weekend. Howden is 43 kills behind third place, held by Angie Breitenfield (1,460).
Sophomore Dariam Acevedo returned to the court this weekend after suffering a season-ending knee injury in just her second match of 2003. At the SMU Invitational, Acevedo averaged 2.33 kills/game (21 total) and added 2.44 digs/game (22 total) and two aces while playing in all nine games.
Texas is averaging 18.11 kills/game after connecting for a 15.54 mark in 2003. Additionally, the Horns are averaging 17.11 assists/game, compared to 13.62 in 2003. Defensively, UT is averaging 16.67 digs per game, more than two-and-a-half more digs per game than the team‚s 2003 total (14.03).

Elliott's Keys to the Match
Take care of our side of the net
Have everyone on the same page in regards to our game plan
Build on what we learned and accomplished last weekend in Dallas

About the Opponent
Houston opened its 2004 season going 1-2 as the team hosted the Park Plaza Kick-Off last weekend. The Cougars defeated Maryland, 3-2 (30-20, 22-30, 24-30, 30-27, 15-10), before falling to No. 14 Kansas State, 3-2 (30-22, 25-30, 24-30, 30-25, 15-10), and No. 10 California, 3-0 (30-22, 30-27, 30-26).

Houston - Quick Facts Nickname: Cougars Head Coach: Bill Walton (George Williams '74) 2003 Record: 12-20 2003 Conference Record/Finish: 6-7 (Tied for seventh) 2003 Postseason: Conference USA Tournament Web site: http://www.UHCougars.com