Cook, Rhoder Set Career Highs for Kills in Four-Set Win at Houston

Friday, November 1

Houston, Texas

7:00 PM

Tulsa

13-11,6-5AAC

Houston

14-12,8-3AAC

Tulsa

Houston

Cook_Callie + Rhoder_Maddie vs. Wichita State

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Cook, Rhoder Set Career Highs for Kills in Four-Set Win at Houston

11/1/2019 10:35:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON - Junior Callie Cook and senior Maddie Rhoder set new career highs in kills on Friday night, as the Golden Hurricane defeated Houston on the road in four sets [26-28, 25-17, 25-19, 28-16] at the Fertitta Center. The win is significant for the Golden Hurricane (14-10, 7-4 The American) in the western division standings, as the Cougars (14-12, 8-3) now hold a one-game lead over TU.

Houston is still atop the division. However, the Golden Hurricane currently have sole possession of third place in the division, following Tulane's loss to Wichita State in three sets on Friday.

The Golden Hurricane led by as much as three points on three occasions in the first set. But the Cougars had the hot hand late, erasing Tulsa's 24-21 advantage with a 4-0 run for their first lead of the evening. The two teams then exchanged points before Houston scored two straight to end the set.

Tulsa found its rhythm both offensively and defensively in the second set. The Golden Hurricane started the game on a 3-0 run. Leading 14-7, junior Maggie Hembree and freshman Kayley Cassaday tallied TU's next five points. Hembree connected on three attempts, while Cassaday had two kills, en route to Houston calling its second time out of the set at 18-11. Tulsa held an eight-point advantage seven times in the second game. The Golden Hurricane finished the set with a .400 attacking percentage. They finished with 19 kills on 40 hits with three errors.

A 7-1 Tulsa run proved to be the difference in the third set. Trailing 11-8, Cook got the Golden Hurricane rolling with a kill. Freshman Dilara Gedikoglu and Rhoder each added a pair of kills for a 15-12 advantage. The Cougars clawed back, trimming Tulsa's lead to two points at 18-16. That was close as Houston got, as the Golden Hurricane scored three consecutive points.

Houston would erase a four-point deficit late in the fourth set, as the Cougars took their first lead in the set at 22-21. With the set tied at 26 apiece, Hannah Overmyer stuffed a Cougar attack to put Tulsa ahead 27-26. Hembree then connected for her seventh kill of the contest to capture match point.

Tulsa finished with a .253 hitting percentage. The Golden Hurricane had a season-high 68 kills on 186 attempts with 21 errors. The Cougars were held to a .157 attacking clip with 49 kills on 172 attacks, while committing 22 errors.

In addition to holding the advantage in kills, the Golden Hurricane also led in assists (62-44), digs (87-80), and total blocks (8-7). The Cougars recorded eight service aces to five for TU.

Four Golden Hurricane finished with double-figure kills. Cook posted a career-high 16 kills on 22 hits and committed zero errors. The middle blocker's .727 hitting percentage is also a career-best. Rhoder also reached a career-high in kills. She ended with 11 on a .429 attacking clip. The two also had three block assists apiece.

Gedikoglu finished with a match-high 17 kills, to go with 15 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Cassaday was the fourth Golden Hurricane with double-figure kills. She reached double digits for the third time this season, adding 11.

Roosa Rautio and Mariah Pardo also contributed double-doubles. Rautio led everyone with 29 assists and had 15 digs for her seventh double-double of the campaign. Pardo came off the bench and tallied 21 dimes and 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the year and 40th of her career.

Taylor Horsfall chipped in 28 digs, to go with 10 assists for her second career double-double. Her 10 assists tie her career-high, which was also set against Houston. Maddie Flora added double-figure digs for the third time this season, finishing with a season-high 13.

Hembree had seven kills, a career-high two service aces, and 3.5 blocks (one solo, three block assists).

Houston libero Katie Karbo had 25 digs.

Tulsa improves its lead in the all-time series against Houston to 21-8. The two teams combined for 27 ties and 11 lead changes.

The Golden Hurricane will look to tie the season series with the Green Wave (16-8, 6-5) on Sunday in New Orleans. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.