HOUSTON – After a first-set battle that wasn't decided until after both teams reached the 20-point mark, Northwestern State could not keep pace with the more-than-capable Houston attack in an 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-14) loss on Saturday evening.
 
The Cougars averaged more than 14 kills per set and just under five errors per set on their way to a .313 hitting percentage for the match, the biggest difference between the two teams on the stat line.
 
Led by the captain trio of libero Ashlyn Svoboda and outside hitters Teresa Garza and Reaghan Thompson, the Demons (4-2) equaled the Cougars in total digs with 35 for the match. Svoboda led the team with nine while Garza and Thompson each contributed eight.
 
NSU fell behind by six in the early going of set one, but fought its way back with a critical 4-0 run late in the frame. Samaya Wesson started the burst with one of her four kills on the day which was followed by Garza sandwiching a pair of aces around a block from Thompson and Wesson making it a two-point game at 17-15.
 
The Cougars clung to their two-point edge finding an immediate answer for each the Demons' next five points of the set. Consecutive kills at the 22-20 make gave Houston set point which it got on a Demon service error.
 
Another 4-0 scoring run in the second gave the Demons the lead, using their top-notch blocking to lead the way. Deja Benjamin connected with Olivia Bush for one rejection then immediately went to the other side of the next to hook up with Thompson for another. 
 
NSU finished with five blocks in the match and were out blocked by their opponent for the first time this year with Houston's seven in the match.
 
The Cougars responded with a 5-1 run to take the lead and never relinquished it the rest of the set or the match.
 
The Demons return to action on Tuesday night at Grambling.