For the third time in the young 2009 season, the Sam Houston State volleyball team was stretched to five sets and for the third time the Bearkats won.

Led by the front line of Carli Kolbe, Anna Ferguson and Kelli Stewart, the Kats defeated the University of Houston 26-24 17-25 25-20 16-25 16-14 to up Sam Houston's record to 5-4. Houston dropped to 1-7.   Kolbe totaled 24 points with 19 kills two aces and four blocks. Ferguson added 22 points with 18 coming on kills. Stewart had 14 kills.

Kinsey Cave led the Cougars with 21 kills. Erin Rice added 12.

All but the fourth set were nip and tuck battles with 30 ties and 15 lead changes throughout the match.   With the score tied 14-14 in the decisive fifth set, Ferguson and Michelle Miller blocked a scoring attempt by Jasmine Terry to give the Kats match point at 15-14. Kolbe's kill on the next point was the match winner.  

Miller, a true freshman from Round Rock, was inserted into the contest early in the first set as starting setter junior Kym Loving went down with a twisted knee. Miller assisted on 54 Bearkat kills.

"Michelle did a great job for us coming off the bench for us in that situation," Sam Houston coach Brenda Gray said. "This was a team effort. The girls have been playing hard and it paid off tonight."

For the Cougars, Jasmine Terry and Chandace Tryon each added 10 kills.   Kim Black and Jamie Kaleh each added four kills for Sam Houston State. 

Next action for the Bearkats will be a trip to Reno for the Nevada Invitational volleyball tournament.