Oct. 18, 2007

HOUSTON - The University of Houston volleyball team takes to the road this weekend for two conference matches against the UAB Blazers and the Memphis Tigers. Houston (11-8, 6-2 C-USA) will begin the weekend with a 7pm match against the Blazers on Friday and will end the weekend with a 1pm match against the Tigers on Sunday.

Houston is 4-4 on the road this season but they take a three-game win streak to Birmingham on Friday. The Cougars won their last road contest in a three-game sweep of SMU on Oct. 7.

UAB
The Cougars are 14-1 in the all-time series against the Blazers and 13-1 with head coach Bill Walton at the helm. Houston has won the last two against UAB, with their last loss coming on Oct. 23, 2003.

UAB brings a 6-2 conference record and a 16-6 overall record into the match. They are tied with Houston and Tulsa for third place in the conference and have won eight straight.

Memphis
Houston is 18-7 in the all-time series against Memphis and 18-6 under Walton. The Tigers are in fourth place in conference play with a 5-2 record and 16-8 overall. They have won four of their last five matches.

Memphis takes a two game win streak over Houston into the match. Houston last defeated the Tigers in 2004.

Around the League
In conference action this season the Cougars rank third in multiple categories as a team including, blocks (2.60 p/g), kills (15.55 p/g), and fourth in assists (13.97 p/g), opponent hitting percentage (.187) and digs (17.76 p/g). Houston also ranks fifth in hitting percentage (.224).

Individually, Justine Farmer leads the league in kills (6.00 p/g) and points (187.5). Libero Amanda Carson sits in fourth in digs with 146 (5.03 per game) and Erin Rice is sixth in the league in blocks with 34.0 (1.17 per game). Hannah Sullivan is sixth in aces with 11, seventh in points with 135.0 and eighth in kill with 115 (4.11 p/g). Kelsey King entered the top 10 in assists with 248 (8.86 p/g).

Last Time Out
Houston notched two wins last weekend against Tulane and UTEP at the Athletics/Alumni Center. Houston swept Tulane and defeated UTEP in five games behind two double-doubles from junior Justine Farmer. For her performance last weekend, Farmer was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.

Up Next
Houston will return home for two matches against East Carolina and Marshall on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, respectively. Houston will face ECU at 7pm and Marshall at 1pm.

Live stats and live video streaming will be available for all home matches. Houston fans can view Gametracker by logging on to the host schools websites.

A complete wrap-up and stats will be available at www.UHCougars.com following each day of competition.