Houston vs South Dakota | Fri. 12/2 3:30 PM CT | ESPN+

[avid 2.0]

2022 NCAA Tournament Houston vs South Dakota

Friday, December 2 Omaha, NE 3:30 PM CT/4:30 PM ET

📺: ESPN+

📊: Live Stats

H2H: First Meeting

Houston		South Dakota
28-3		29-3

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Players To Watch

8. Isabel Theut OH	11. Rachel Tullos MB	17. Kate Georgiades L	24. Abbie Jackson OH
6. Elizabeth Juhnke OH	7. Madison Harms MB	14. Lolo Wiedeman L	15. Madi Woodin S

[kiyoat]

Major Team Stats Comparison:

stat	USD	(opponents)		Houston	(opponents)
Hitting%	.258	.170	-	.249	.168
Kills/S	13.4	11.8	-	13.9	11.3
Assists/S	12.5	10.9	-	12.9	10.6
Aces/S	1.5	1.5	-	1.6	1.1
Digs/S	16.2	14.4	-	15.2	14.4
Blocks/S	2.5	1.8	-	2.2	1.9

Honestly, these stats look very similar.  Houston may have a better serve-receive, and South Dakota is getting more blocks.  The strength of schedule is different, so you could say the stats should be handicapped to that.  Stats don't tell the whole story, but I don't see any glaring weaknesses from this.  Individual match-ups will probably be where these teams try to exploit.

Our Setter is on the small side, so that's an obvious one.

[Kingsley]

I mean, do I root for Lord Woodin or my fantasy MVP

[avid 2.0]

Nov 29, 2022 12:52:00 GMT -5 kiyoat said:

Major Team Stats Comparison:

Our Setter is on the small side, so that's an obvious one.

South Dakota needs to do their best with not getting Woodin matched with Jackson... or get creative with blocking when Houston is receiving. 

[volleynerd]

this is basically going to be a home match for the coyotes they travel well.

[kiyoat]

The most recent matches for each team (full)

South Dakota @ Omaha

link

Houston @ UCF

link

[kiyoat]

Recent Midco Sports Network interviews:

Elizabeth Juhnke (3 weeks ago)



Coach Leanne Williamson (today)



Tried to find some Houston interviews, but no luck.  If anyone finds a recent video or written interview with them, post it.

[Steve vb]

Nov 29, 2022 14:23:38 GMT -5 volleynerd said:

this is basically going to be a home match for the coyotes they travel well.

Plus Creighton fans will be cheering for them since they are nearby and slight underdogs.  

[kiyoat]

The AAC just made all-conference selections:

[kiyoat]

Found one:
thedailycougar.com/2022/11/29/uh-volleyball-snub/

“In years past, a streak like this would have been unheard of because of how much the Cougars’ success depended on Jackson. Rehr knew that if Jackson didn’t play well, UH would likely lose.

This year, the Cougars’ weapons were abundant.

Whether it was veterans like Isabel Theut, Kennedy Warren and Rachel Tullos elevating their games to the next level or the key additions of Morin and setter Morgan Janda filling the team’s gaps, a weight was taken off of Jackson’s shoulders.

Wins followed.“

[rainbowbadger]

So we’ve got the swinging machine that is Juhnke paired with the digging machine that is Georgiades. This is gonna be so fun!

[kiyoat]

Nov 30, 2022 8:15:10 GMT -5 rainbowbadger said:

So we’ve got the swinging machine that is Juhnke paired with the digging machine that is Georgiades. This is gonna be so fun!

And several days to prepare.  I think most odds-makers would put South Dakota as a major underdog, but they have earned a shot, at least.

Massey shows Houston favored with an 85% chance of winning, predicted 3-1.

If you project it as a home match for the Yotes, the odds go down to 69% Houston, still 3-1.

(Honestly, even winning a single set in the dance would be a program first, and it has been a very long time since any team from the Summit has done that, also.)

[kiyoat]

Here's a nice couple of paragraphs from a recent VolleyBallMag.com article:

volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-tournament-tidbits-112822/

REHR ROARS: Speaking of Volleyball Baton Rouge, back in the day at club tournaments, I became friends with the then-Arkansas State coach, Dave Rehr. We just used to hang around and visit and I always figured one day he would move to a bigger program. Indeed he did and what he’s done in just four seasons at Houston is incredible.



The Cougars play South Dakota at Creighton and that should truly be one of the best of the 32 first-round matches. Houston, which finished 25-7 last year but didn’t get a bid, is back in the NCAA for the first time since 2015. The Cougars are 28-3 and had won 20 in a row before their five-set loss at UCF on Friday. The Houston-UCF rivalry in the American Athletic Conference has been awesome for both programs and will continue when they move to the Big 12 next year. Houston will now have the distinction of playing against the top two attackers in the NCAA. UCF’s McKenna Melville leads at 5.56 kills/set, while South Dakota’s Elizabeth Juhnke is second at 5.37. And Juhnke leads by far in overall kills with 660.

[jayj79]

Nov 30, 2022 6:38:47 GMT -5 kiyoat said:

Found one:
thedailycougar.com/2022/11/29/uh-volleyball-snub/

I can't remember the bracket debate from last season (actually, since my team had zero chance, I just ignored such discussions entirely)
but were they truly "snubbed" as this homer article claims?
Or did Houston just not have a good enough season to merit a bid?

[pavsec5row10]

Houston is making their 12th NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2000. The Cougars are 11-33 (.250) in sets played, making the Elite Eight in 1994.

South Dakota is making their 4th NCAA tournament appearance and third consecutive. The Coyotes are 0-9 (.000) in sets played.