Oct. 5, 2001

HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Houston women's volleyball team snapped its three-match losing streak with a withering offensive attack in taking a 3-0 victory over Conference USA rival Saint Louis on Friday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The Cougars (6-8, 3-2, C-USA) cruised to their first three-game win of the season while blasting away to a season-best .369 hitting percentage as a team, more than 50 points better than their previous season high.

Senior outside hitter Jennifer Wittenburg crushed 19 kills with only four errors in 32 chances and added a team-high 11 digs for the Cougars. Jenny Tanneberger added 13 kills with only two errors of her own in 23 chances. That Cougar duo would combine to post more kills than the entire Saint Louis team.

Houston jumped to a 7-1 lead in game one and never trailed again the rest of the way. At one point, the Billikens pulled to within 18-10, but UH rattled off the game's next six points to take control of the game.

The Cougars set the tone early for the match by tallying a remarkable .500 hitting percentage with 17 kills and only two errors in 30 chances in the first game.

Game two would prove to be a closer affair until the Cougars exploded on an 8-1 run that turned a slim 17-16 lead into a comfortable 25-17 margin.

In game three, another Cougar rally midway through the game put UH into the driver's seat. Tied at 12-12, UH scored the game's next eight points and was never threatened again.

Houston regained its hitting touch in the final game, posting 16 kills with only four errors as a team.

Saint Louis (4-7, 2-2 C-USA) was led by Colleen Hunter who tallied 10 kills and nine digs.

The Cougar homestand continues Saturday night when the Cougars play host to Conference USA rival Memphis in a 7 p.m. match at Hofheinz Pavilion. That marks the second time the Tigers and Cougars have squared off this season, with Houston taking a 3-2 win at Memphis on Sept. 23.