WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State battled back from a 10-2 deficit in set five to pull within 14-13, but Houston took the final point to win the match 27-29, 27-25, 25-18, 17-25, 15-13.
 
The Shockers (14-8, 8-5) found themselves in a huge hole early in the fifth set, as Houston scored five of their first eight points on blocks to seize the initiative. But Wichita State clawed back, getting five kills from Sophia Rohling and four from Brylee Kelly to trim the deficit to one after a block from Rohling and Natalie Foster. The ensuing serve was long, however, giving Houston (20-5, 10-3) the win.
 
Rohling led the Shockers with a season-high 19 kills, hitting .341 in a match where neither side was able to crack .175 as a team. Foster delivered 14 kills and Kelly added 13, while Kailin Newsome put together a double-double, pouring in 11 kills and recording a career-high 26 digs.
 
WSU pulled out a hard-fought first set despite facing set point at 24-21, getting a Houston service error and then two aces from Kelly to tie it up at 24-24. Kelly eventually put the set away with a cross-court kill to give the Shockers the opening set.
 
The Shockers were in control of set two at the midway point, leading 17-12, but the Cougars rattled off seven points in a row to move back in front. A Houston ball-handling error gave WSU set point at 25-24, but Abbie Jackson fired home three consecutive kills to even the match at a set apiece.
 
The third and fourth sets were more decisive, with Houston siding out at 64% in the third set and using an 11-3 run to pull away. WSU responded with an identical 11-3 run in the fourth set, in both cases turning a 9-9 tie into a comfortable lead. The Shockers hit .237 in the fourth set, their highest single output of the match.
 
Jackson led Houston with 18 kills, contributing three service aces, while libero Kate Georgiades had a match-high 39 digs. Kayce Litzau racked up 56 assists for Wichita State, adding 12 digs and five kills.
 
Wichita State continues the homestand on Sunday against Tulane. First serve is scheduled for 12:00 PM and can be streamed live on ESPN+.