TCU
Houston @ C-USA Championship
Volleyball Falls in Four to Houston at C-USA Tournament
11/22/2002 12:00:00 AM
Nov. 22, 2002
CHICAGO, Ill. - Third time wasn't the charm for the TCU Volleyball (12-18, 4-9 C-USA) team as they fell to Houston (18-11), 3-1, on Friday afternoon in the first round of the 2002 Healthy Choice Conference USA Tournament at DePaul University. The meeting was the third of the season between the two conference and in-state foes; the match was also the third appearance in a conference tournament for the Frogs.
Houston jumped out to the lead early in game one, scoring three before the Frogs got on the board with freshman Hayley Harmon's kill. The Cougars pushed the advantage to 13 at 21-8, then TCU turned it up and scored on six consecutive plays to cut the lead to seven. That would be as close as the Frogs would get in game one, as Houston claimed the first game victory, 30-20.
Game two was reversal of fortune as the Frogs broke a 3-3 tie, then refused to relinquish the lead. TCU's largest advantage was six at 27-21 after a Houston service error and again at 29-23 with a kill by junior Tori Barlow. The Cougars refused to go quietly, scoring on three plays to make the score 29-26. Senior Stephanie Watson's game winning kill sealed the 30-26 victory, and evened the match at one game apiece entering intermission.
The teams came out of the break fairly evenly matched - they were tied early on, then the Frogs took the lead and then the Cougars claimed the advantage. Houston was able to push its lead to as many as five before TCU rallied. The Frogs cut it to two at 24-26 with a kill from freshman Erin Estep and a block by Barlow and Estep. However, the Cougars were able to withstand the Frog pressure and won 30-25.
In the fourth stanza, the squads traded points back and forth until Houston broke the nine all tie. From that point on, the Frogs played catch-up as the Cougars led by as many as six points several times. TCU cut the Houston advantage to four to make it 25-21, but that would be as close as TCU could get. Houston claimed the 30-25 game four win to take the match 3-1.
"When you look at the big picture and where this program's been to where we've gotten, we're pleased with the accomplishments and the goals we've accomplished," said head coach Prentice Lewis. "The disappointing side is not taking the opportunities to finish things up. It's tough on all our players, but especially the seniors (Jenn Cuca and Stephanie Watson)."
Szabo again led the Frogs with 21 kills on 45 attacks, while Barlow picked up 42 assists for the day. Freshman Jackie Choi and Watson each tallied a single ace for the Frogs. Senior Jenn Cuca earned 10 digs for the afternoon, and freshman Erin Estep was credited with five blocks. Cuca ends the season at number two on the single season digs list with 373. Estep cracked the top 10 for career blocks with 86 in her first year.
