Box Score

Nov. 16, 2006

HOUSTON, Texas - In match number three of the 2006 Conference USA Volleyball Championship in Houston, Texas, the host Cougars downed cross town rival Rice, 3-0 (30-27, 30-28, 30-23). Houston's Justine Farmer led all players with 28 kills, while hitting .429. The sophomore also tallied 16 digs to notch her league-leading 22nd double-double. This is the first time Houston has swept Rice since 1999.

Sunshine Misa-Uli was the only other Cougar with double-figure kills, slamming 12. Senior Kelly McAnelly registered 12 digs and seven kills, while Ashley Calhoun had a team-high 17 digs. Krystal Schulle led UH with 43 assists and added eight digs. Farmer's 28 kills were a new career high for a three-game match.

Three Owls recorded double-digit kills, led by Karyn Morgan with 11. Morgan added 14 digs for her 18th double-double. Natalie Bogan and Jennifer McClean each had 10 kills and McClean tallied 14 digs to bring her double-double total to 13. Channing Grigsby set up the Rice offence with 43 assists and Jessica Holderness led her team with 19 digs. Libero Yvette Kirk chipped in with 16 digs. Senior Tessa Kuykendall finished with eight kills and five blocks. Kuykendall finishes her career as Rice's all-time blocks leader with 546.

Houston head coach Bill Walton said that even though his team rarely sweeps Rice, the number of games doesn't matter. "The amount of games does not matter," Walton said. "This team is like night and day right now with the way we play. We used our subs well today and I give the subs credit for going in and settling things down and creating a good situation. We were the better team today from points 24-30."

Houston improves to 18-14 with the win and advances to face second-seeded Marshall on Friday at 5 p.m. Rice finishes their regular season at 12-19.