Houston’s Kate Georgiades (17) receives a serve from Ole Miss during the first half of an NCAA women’s college volleyball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Houston volleyball was defeated 3-1 by Arizona on Friday. Both sides put up a fierce fight all night long in the Tucson matchup. 

Arizona dominated the first set, winning 25–20 to start the match. Arizona’s defense held firm at the net, making it difficult for Houston to establish a rhythm. The Cougars found it challenging to string together points because Arizona’s middle blockers denied several Houston hitters’ attempts. 

After losing set one, Houston fought back to win the second set which was the most exciting of the match. Houston won set two 25–22 after a burst of energy and well-executed passes. 

Houston rallied and displayed its offensive ability under outside hitter Angela Grieve strong net play. Graduate setter Annie Cooke was noteworthy throughout the match because of her ability to create scoring opportunities through precise sets.

The Wildcats’ potent offense and strong defense proved to be too much, as they defeated the Cougars in the following two sets.

Sophomore middle blocker Ella Wendel contributed four kills and four blocks, which provided Houston with a well-rounded performance at the net. In the third set, Wendel’s blocking attempts helped briefly slow down Arizona’s surge.

Grieve led the Cougars with a double-digit kill total and was one of the Cougar’s most effective players on offense. In order to keep Houston in the game, Cooke played a crucial role by providing a team-high 26 assists. Graduate libero Kate Georgiades played very well defensively, recording a season-high 35 digs.

It was difficult for the Cougars to keep up with Arizona’s aggressive play and skillful blocking, particularly in the later sets. Houston was resilient when met with adversity, especially in the second set. The Cougars fought hard throughout the match, which showcased their ability to compete in a challenging away setting.

After the loss to Arizona, Houston is now 8-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play. This game made clear there is room for improvement, particularly in consistency and reducing unforced errors. The Cougars made 21 errors throughout the game, several of which occurred at crucial moments that allowed Arizona to take the lead.

Houston will seek to learn from this loss and bounce back against the No. 22 Baylor Bears on Oct. 23 at home.

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“Georgiades season-high 35 digs not enough in Arizona loss” was originally posted on The Cougar

University of Houston wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV runs with the ball during practice, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

The University of Houston Cougars football team will play the highly-anticipated UNLV Rebels in their season opener on Aug. 31.

Intending to make a big impression in their season debut, Houston arrives into this game with high hopes. Getting off to a strong start is important as they continue to adjust to the Big 12’s level of competition.

A fast-paced offense that includes new plays and calculated runs should be expected. The offensive line, which is strengthened by both young players and seasoned veterans, will be essential in protecting the running game and creating lanes for it.

Head Coach

The 16th head coach in University of Houston football history will be Willie Fritz, the two-time Coach of the Year in the American Athletic Conference. Fritz will be taking a fresh approach to the Cougars for the first time in this game.

Tulane won back-to-back American Athletic Conference Championships under Fritz’s administration. In 2022–2023 Fritz’s Tulane teams stayed in the AP Top 25 for 19 weeks. On January 10, 2023, after their shocking 46–45 Cotton Bowl victory over No. 8 USC, they topped at No.9.

With this being Fritz’s first game with the Cougars the new head coach is still looking to see each of his player’s strengths and weaknesses, wanting to steer them away from those weaknesses while pursuing new challenges and limitations.

New Expectations 

UH will want to make an impression on defense with a strong front seven and a secondary that is prepared to stop UNLV’s passing threat. The outstanding senior linebacker Jamal Morris, who has been a constant force, and the tandem of cornerbacks noted for their coverage abilities are important players to keep an eye on.

The Cougars will put the Rebels’ defense to the test frequently thanks to quarterback Donovan Smith and a strong receiving group headlined by Matthew Golden. It will be crucial for UNLV to be able to contain Houston as a threat.

Vincent Davis can help UNLV establish the run, which might help them manage the clock and keep Houston’s offense off the field. To stop this from occurring, the Cougars’ defense line must be strong.

Both teams will be anxious to get out to a strong start, but Houston, with its sights set on the Big 12, will be especially driven to win handily.

In their season debut, Houston is predicted to start out strong and defeat UNLV with their talent and depth. With their strong defense and potent offense, the Cougars should have the advantage and win easily. But if UNLV can capitalize on Houston’s early-season rust and successfully establish their running game, they could potentially keep things interesting.

What To Expect 

The Cougars have a difficult stretch ahead of them as they manage their Big 12 schedule over the next four weeks. The Cougars will need to put forth their best effort every week to stay competitive in the conference, with two home games and two difficult travel games.

Any setbacks could make the road ahead more challenging, while victories in these games could pave the way for a successful season.

Houston’s 2024 campaign will be crucial as they try to solidify their place in the Big 12. The Cougars have the ability to upset some of the more prestigious institutions in the conference since they have a more experienced group and home-field advantage in important games. The path ahead is difficult, though, and achievement will necessitate delivering excellent work under duress.

Houston can surprise a few higher-ranked teams and end up in the center of the Big 12 rankings, which is a reasonable expectation.

The Cougars can make a bowl appearance, and if they take advantage of their chances, they can surpass expectations and establish themselves as a growing force in the conference.

 sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Preview: UNLV matchup opens season for Houston Cougars” was originally posted on The Cougar

The Forever coogs take a group picture after making it to the quarterfinals.|Raphael Fernandez/ The Cougar

In their first season together, Forever Coogs triumphed over Team Challenge ALS to clinch a spot in The Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals.

The Houston alumni team leveraged their home-court advantage, out-rebounding their opponents 37-28 and sealed the win with two clutch free throws by Melvin Frazier during a decisive 14-3 run to close the game.

TBT is an annual summer competition in the U.S. featuring an open-invitation, single-elimination format with a cash prize at stake. Since the beginning, the number of teams participating fluctuated but in recent years, it has settled at 64.

This year’s tournament began on July 19, featuring alumni teams from all over. Forever Coogs first matchup was against Austin’s Team and the Forever Coogs took the win home with a score of 71-60. Rob Gray led the team in scoring with a total of 21 points, followed by Wesley Van with 13 points and six rebounds.

Advancing to the quarterfinals, the Forever Coogs continued their undefeated run by defeating Challenge ALS 75-70. Despite being down the first half of the game, they quickly turned around to secure a 3-0 record.

Gray was the led the scoring with 23 points, going 3-7 from the three-point line, Justin Gorham with 12 points and six rebounds and Frazier with 11 points and eight rebounds leading the Coogs to their third victory in the tournament.

On Aug. 4, the Forever Coogs took a run in the final game against Carmen’s Crew, who held a 1-2 record.

The game started with Tashawn Thomas sinking a jump shot for the Coogs, but Carmen’s Crew quickly responded. In the final five minutes, the Coogs kept the game tight, trailing by just six points.

However, Carmen’s Crew ultimately took control in overtime, edging out the Coogs by two points.

Throughout the tournament, the Coogs averaged 73.3 points per game, shot 24.8% from three-point range, 77.7% from the free-throw line and recorded a 41.8% rebounding rate across their six games.

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“Houston’s Forever Coogs make strong debut in TBT” was originally posted on The Cougar

Graduate Kate Georgiades is preparing to lead during her fifth season. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Houston volleyball looks to bounce back after losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year. The Cougars finished the 2023 season with a 19-10 record overall and an 11-7 record in conference play. Before entering their second consecutive tournament, the Cougars were ranked 24th in the NCAA rankings.

“With a new group coming in, it’s all about trying to find a way to win and using the strengths of our players. I like that we have so much new talent,” head coach David Rehr said. “You’re for sure going to see freshman on the court and you’re going to see a handful of two to three transfers on the court, so it’ll be a fun group to kind of watch.”

Houston star graduate libero Kate Georgiades will be returning to Cougars with great experience and accolades. Georgiades was named Libero of the Year for the 2023 Big 12 Conference, a 2023 All-Big 12 First Team and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.

“As a fifth year, you’re tired, you only have so much energy, but I still have to make sure I am leading and being intentional with how I am communicating with my teammates, and with the new pieces we have coming in how can I teach them the system and get them comfortable before preseason,” Georgiades said. “I am trying to expand my range and survey the defense specifically, and just seeing how many courts I can take to alleviate my hitter’s passing duties and help them out.”

In addition to welcoming leadership from familiar faces, Houston added new weapons to the squad ahead of the season.

Graduate outside hitter Angela Grieve joined the Cougars from the University of Miami. The Florida native ranked third on the team with 280 kills and 2.83 kills per set. She led the team with 30 service aces, averaged 0.30 aces per set and earned 50 blocks — 6 solo and 44 block assists.

Senior setter Rebecca Rocassin also brings experience from the state of Florida. During her 2023 season with Jacksonville, Rocassin appeared in every set the Dolphins played. She finished the season with 1,036 assists and a career-high mark of 9.87 per set.

Junior outside hitter Avery Shimatis returned to her hometown after spending her first two seasons with Pepperdine. During her sophomore season, she played nine matches, totaled fourteen sets and recorded 15 kills, including a five-kill season high on Sept. 7 against UCLA.

Another homegrown talent, junior setter Paige Bernstein brought her talents to Houston after spending two seasons with Gardner-Webb. Bernstein led the Runnin’ Bulldogs in assists with 359 during her sophomore season, during which she appeared in 24 of 27 matches.

“We have nine new players, and everyone needs to know how our culture is built and what we expect to implement. We rely on our returning players including graduate setter Annie Cook, senior outsider hitter Katie Corelli and Georgiades who understand what it means to be a Cougar,” Rehr said. “Everyone needs to understand how hard we work.”

The Cougar’s will take on Rice in an exhibition matchup on Aug. 24 at the Fertitta Center. On Aug. 30 they will face Omaha before kicking off conference play with a matchup against Kansas State on Sept. 25.

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“UH volleyball prepares for 2024 campaign” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jamal Shead at his family home after getting his name called for the NBA draft on June 27, 2024. | Courtesy of Anh Le.

The Toronto Raptors drafted Big 12 Conference Male Athlete of the Year and Hosuston’s former point guard Jamal Shead with the 45th pick in the NBA Draft Thursday.

“It didn’t matter what team Shead went to, they were all going to get the same guy,” head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I tell our guys everything they learned from me is over once they enter the NBA. They just have to make sure they keep their attitude and effort where it needs to be and be a good teammate.”

Shead topped the Cougars in scoring with 12.9 points per game. Along with that, Shead led Houston and placed third in the Big 12 in assists per game (6.3), steals per game (2.2) and assist-turnover percentage (3.11, 2nd). Moreover, he was the first athlete to place in the top 26 in the United States in all three categories.

With a 120-18 overall record, he concluded his career as the second-winning athlete in Houston history.

Jamal earned Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year coincidentally for the first time in Big 12 history. He became Conference Defensive Player of the Year in two separate leagues and joined Bo Outlaw as the only Cougars to obtain the honor multiple times.

With 693 assists, he ended overall third in Houston record and is the first player in Houston history to have more than 200 steals, 600 assists, 1,300 points and 100 wins during his career.

Shead joined Elvin Hayes in 1968 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984 as the only Cougars to earn spots on the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team as a sophomore. He became one of just four Cougars to play in all 38 games, and he dished out 221 assists, the second-most in Houston’s single-season history. 

Shead led the Cougars across his playing career, but never more significantly than in the 2023–24 campaign. He made strides on and off the court as he earned his bachelor’s degree in health promotion. 

His selection makes him the 48th Cougar to be drafted in the NBA Draft, and the fourth under Sampson, who traveled to Austin with assistant coach Kellen Sampson to celebrate with Shead, his family and current and former Cougars.

“All our players getting drafted were unbelievable experiences for their families,” Sampson said. “Once you are a part of this program, you are a part of this brotherhood forever.”

Shead is expected to appear in Summer League games beginning when the Raptors kick off in Las Vegas on July 13.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Jamal Shead drafted by Toronto Raptors in second round” was originally posted on The Cougar

Construction of a larger video board and Football Operations center continues ahead of the 2024 season. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Construction is underway for Houston Athletics for the Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center, built in partnership with Austin Commercial Construction Company and UH Facilities Planning & Construction.

As of now, no current date is set for the completion of the Football Operations Center, but the construction is expected to be complete sometime in the fall of 2025.

However, a new video board, measuring three times bigger than the old one, should be completed by Fall 2024.

“Being in the Big 12, is exciting and acknowledging that we are fully committed to this school, we started this project a little over six and a half months ago and we are now just over a year from being completed,” Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities T.J. Meagher said.

The training facility will have advanced equipment and technology for its weight rooms, conditioning facilities and sports medicine departments to support athletes’ training and rehab. 

“This is truly rewarding to see the impressive efforts of our design team and their vision with the support of the university to make this commitment and tell ourselves this is what we need to do to take ourselves to the next level,” Meagher said.

A key element of UH’s athletics department, the Football Operations Center exhibits the school’s dedication to giving its football program superior amenities and assistance.

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“Construction underway for UH’s new football ops center, completion expected Fall 2025” was originally posted on The Cougar

Graduate Sydni Townsend, senior Iman Babineaux, graduate Kelly-Ann Beckford and freshman Michaela Mouton set to compete in the women’s 4×400-meter. Beckford, Mouton and Townsend will compete in individual events. | Courtesy of UH Athletics/Gunnar Rathbun

Eight men and four women will represent the Cougars at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 5-8. The athletes qualified following the NCAA West Preliminaries on May 22-25.

Men’s championships

The men’s high jump will showcase a freshman from Greece, Antrea Mita, who set a personal record with a jump of 2.17 meters, making him the first Cougar to punch a ticket to the NCAA Championships.

Senior Shaun Maswanganyi, sophomore Louie Hinchliffe, freshman Cayden Broadnax and senior Ireon Brown made the men’s 4×100-meter relay team.

Broadnax, from Ridge Point High School, was a member of the 2023 Texas High School Coaches Association 6A Boys Track and Field Super Elite Team and claimed the 2023 UIL Region 3 6A Championship in the 100-meter.

Brown ranked fourth at the American Championships 200-meter race and at the Tom Tellez Invitational, he ran a season-best of 20.88 in the 200-meter.

Hinchliffe achieved a career-best time of 10.19 in the 100-meter at the Senior England Athletics Championships in Bedford, England in 2022, where he ended up winning the title with a 10.32.

Hinchliffe and Maswanganyi took first and second in the men’s 100-meter at the NCAA West Preliminaries, and look to once again bring top finishes.

After qualifying for the 100-meter and 200-meter every year, the South African 12-time NCAA All-American Maswanganyi is no stranger to the high level of competition. He looks to pursue his first NCAA Championship as he rounds out a historic career at Houston.

Senior De’Vion Wilson ran the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13.24 seconds and was the first individual qualifier in running events. Wilson holds the tie for the fastest qualifying time in the nation proceeding into the NCAA Championships. He shattered the University’s record in the 2023 NCAA Championships, setting a time of 13.26 seconds for the 110-meter hurdles.

After finishing eighth in the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA Championship and achieving Houston’s second highest ever finish, Senior Christyan Sampy looks to build upon his success.

Senior David Ajama, a transfer from South Florida, will join the action, competing in the men’s triple jump.

Women’s championships

On the women’s front, graduate Sydni Townsend, senior Iman Babineaux, graduate Kelly-Ann Beckford and freshman Michaela Mouton secured the final four qualifications for the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships where they will compete together in the women’s 4×400-meter.

With a time of 50.96 in the women’s 400-meter, Mouton set a school record and earned the first ticket for the ladies.

Beckford qualified in the women’s 800-meter with an effort of 2:03.99 and ensured her spot in her final NCAA Championships. In addition to winning the 800-meter in the 2023 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, she set the conference record in the 800-meter.

Townsend finished third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 55.80 and earned a spot in her third NCAA Outdoor Championships. Additionally, she earned the first top-16 result in 32 years and became Houston’s fourth female All-American in the 400 hurdles.

ESPN 2 will broadcast the men’s championship on June 5 and 7, and the women’s championship on June 6 and 8.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Cougar track and field heads to NCAA Outdoor Championships in Oregon” was originally posted on The Cougar

Senior Shaun Maswanganyi passed the baton to freshman Cayden Broadnax in the men’s 4×100 relay. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Two-time Olympic semifinalist senior Shaun Maswanganyi was named Big 12 Men’s Outdoor Performer of the Year, the league office announced last week. 

The honor marks Maswanganyi’s sixth career outdoor conference honor award. In the AAC, he earned five confrence honor awards, including Freshman of the Year in 2021 and Most Valuable Performer in 2022 and 2023.

Maswanganyi ran a 10.11 and earned his first individual big title in the 100-meter dash.

With a 38.44 finish, the anchor leg of the men’s 4×100-meter relay squad captured his first Big 12 triumph. The squad matched the second-fastest time in the U.S. and set an institutional record.

During his career, Maswanganyi took home silver in the 2023 FISU World University Games’ 100-meter dash, silver in the 2022 AAC Indoor Track and Field long jump competition and earned All-American status 12 times.

After winning his fourth 200-meter conference title with 20.10, Maswanganyi met the Olympic qualifying standard time.

The sprinter’s season is not over as he is set to compete in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash in the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Fayetteville.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Shaun Maswanganyi named Big 12 Men’s Outdoor Performer of the Year” was originally posted on The Cougar