HOUSTON – A balanced offensive effort from Houston helped the Cougars fend off Wichita State in three sets on Sunday afternoon at the Fertitta Center, sweeping the Shockers 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.
 
The Shockers would hold just one lead in the match, a 1-0 advantage to start the second set. Houston (11-3, 1-1) grabbed control early in the first, snagging an 8-3 advantage and keeping Wichita State at arm's length the rest of the way. The Shockers (6-5, 0-2) twice crawled back to within two, but a 5-0 run midway through the set put Houston in front 20-13 and proved to be the difference.
 
The Shockers found a rhythm early in the second set, rattling off a 5-1 run to trim Houston's lead to 10-9, capped off by a pair of kills from Sophia Rohling and Natalie Foster. But the Cougars found an answer with a six-point run, including three kills from Abbie Jackson. Jackson finished with a match-high 14 kills for Houston on 43 attacks. The two teams traded points the rest of the way, with a Rachel Tullos kill ultimately claiming the set for the Cougars.
 
Wichita State quickly fell into a 5-0 hole in the third set, scrapping back to 7-4 thanks to kills from Morgan Stout and Kayce Litzau and eventually to within two at 10-8. Houston created separation at the service line, as the Cougars picked up four aces in the third. Bridget Wallenberger paced the Houston offense with six kills in the set.
 
The Shockers were led by Rohling's nine kills and two solo blocks, with Natalie Foster and Sophie Childs adding five kills apiece. Litzau delivered 27 assists, and Lily Liekweg and Annalie Heliste reached double-digit digs.
 
Wichita State returns home for a pair of matches at Charles Koch Arena beginning on Friday night against UCF. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.