TCU
Houston
VolleyFrogs Win Five-Game Thriller at Houston
11/6/2001 12:00:00 AM
Nov. 6, 2001
HOUSTON, Texas - For the second time this season, the TCU volleyball team (7-19, 3-11 C-USA) came from an 0-2 intermission deficit to win a conference match. The Frogs snapped their seven-match losing streak as they beat the University of Houston (13-10, 10-4 C-USA) on Tuesday evening in a five-game thriller. Senior Marci King became TCU's all-time digs leader with her six digs for the evening to give her 1,177 career digs. She surpassed Jill Pape's 1,173 career digs from 1996-99.
The Cougars took immediate control of game one. TCU pulled to within three at 8-5, but never any closer. UH took the first game 30-10.
The Frogs hit better in game two (-.206 compared to .182), but the result was the same as the Cougars won the game 30-19. Freshman Amber Sims had four kills to lead the Frogs in game two.
TCU came out fired up following intermission and took Houston to a point-for-point battle in game three. Neither team led by more than four points until the Frogs went on a late run at the 26-23 mark. TCU refused to let the Cougars score again and took the game 30-23.
The intensity didn't wane in game four as the teams once again traded points throughout the game. TCU took the lead at 22-21 on a kill from senior Lindsay Hayes and ran it to a five-point margin before Houston came back to within one (28-27). The Frogs scored the last two points on kills from King and Sims to win 30-27, and force the fifth and deciding game.
Houston opened up with the first two points of the first-to-15 fifth game. TCU tied things up at four apiece, then took the lead by as many as four (8-4) until Houston tied the game at 10. The teams continued to swap points until TCU took the final lead on a kill from junior Jenn Cuca and the final block assist from Hayes and senior Jennifer Sebastian to win 17-15.
"I am so excited by how we played in the last three games," said head coach Sandy Troudt. "The monkey came off our back - at least some tonight. Marci (King), Amber Sims and Jenn (Cuca) played well. We had some big plays from everybody tonight. It was awesome!"
Cuca led the Frogs with 12 kills and 41 attacks. Tori Barlow posted 23 assists and 12 digs. Allison Lynch had 2 aces. King handed the Frogs four blocks for the night.
The Frogs finish their regular-season at home against Marquette and DePaul on November 9 and 10. Both matches are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Rickel Center. Saturday night will be Senior Night.
