Cougars Top Temple in Five-Set Thriller, Win Conference Opener

Bella Foutz (left) and Andrea Ortega (right) celebrate after a kill from Ortega. Ortega finished the match with 14 kills — the most of any player in one game this season. Photo: Sara Carpenter/Collin College
Bella Foutz (left) and Andrea Ortega (right) celebrate after a kill from Ortega. Ortega finished the match with 14 kills — the most of any player in one game this season. Photo: Sara Carpenter/Collin College
Posted: Sep 04, 2025

The Collin College women's volleyball team completed a reverse sweep, rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat Temple College, 3-2 (18-25, 13-25, 25-13, 25-17, 15-9), on Sept. 3 in both teams' conference openers. The win marked the Cougars' first conference victory of the season and extended their undefeated home record.

 KEY PLAYERS

  • Fr. OH Andrea Ortega led all players with a career-high and season-best 14 kills—her second straight match with 10+ kills—to hit an impressive 1.250 and totaled 14.0 points. She added a service ace, a dig, and a block assist as well.
  • Fr. OH Maya Nalls recorded 11 kills—her third match this season with 10+ kills. She also added five digs, and a service ace to finish with 13.0 points.
  • Fr. MB Tylisee Brinkley contributed seven kills, one solo block, and two block assists to notch 8.0 points.
  • Fr. OH Amaya Carter earned 8.0 points on four kills and three service aces—a career-high—and a solo block.
  • So. OH Oge Ugorji added five kills to go with two service aces and 11 digs for 7.0 points.
  • Fr. LIB Emily Torres anchored the back row with a career-high and season-best 29 digs and added six assists. Her 29 digs this match bring her season total to 163, ranking her first in the conference and fifth in the nation.
  • Fr. S Parker Kimbal set the offense with 22 assists – her seventh match with 20+ assists. She also chipped in one kill and seven digs. Her total number of assists for the season is 192, ranking her second in the conference.
  • So. DS Bella Foutz had a season-high 11 digs and tallied three service aces—her second straight match with three or more—and 14 assists to contribute 3.0 points.
  • Jr. OH Lauren Larkins posted four kills, four digs, and a solo block for 5.0 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Temple put the first point up in the first set of the match, but the Cougars quickly responded with a powerful kill from Brinkley to even the score at 1-1. Momentum shifted as Nalls delivered two kills and a Leopard hitting error sparked a three-point Cougar run, putting them ahead 5-2. Temple answered with a three-point run of their own, tying it up at 5-5, before a clutch kill by Larkins halted their streak at 6-5. Back-to-back errors from Temple gave the Cougars an 8-5 advantage. Temple rallied with another three-point burst, reclaiming the lead at 9-8 before another kill from Larkins ended their push. The teams traded points, and a kill from Ortega kept the Cougars close at 10-11. Ugorji added back-to-back kills to bring the Cougars to 13-16. The Cougars pulled within one point at 17-18 after consecutive Temple errors, a service ace from Nalls, and a kill from Larkins. However, Temple responded with a decisive four-point rally, extending their lead. Though the Cougars managed one more point, Temple held firm to take the first set, 25-18.

Temple opened the second set with the first point, but a powerful kill from Carter tied the score at 1-1. Temple responded with a four-point run to take a 5-1 lead before a kill by Brinkley halted their momentum. A kill from Nalls followed by a service ace from Foutz brought the Cougars within two points at 4-6.Temple answered with a quick two-point burst to make it 4-8, but a service error gave the Cougars a point, 5-8. Temple extended their lead to 13-7, prompting a timeout from the Cougars. A Temple service error made it 8-13, but Temple regained control and pushed the score to 16-8.The Cougars stopped the run with a kill by Nalls (9-16), followed by a service ace from Ugorji to close the gap to 10-16. Another Temple service error brought the Cougars to 11-17. However, Temple surged ahead with a five-point run, extending their lead to 22-11.The Cougars managed two more points off a Temple service error and a hitting error, bringing the score to 13-22. But Temple closed out the set with a strong finish, taking the second straight set with a dominant 25-13 win

Temple opened the third set with the first three points, but the Cougars responded with a solo block by Carter and a kill from Nalls to cut the deficit to 2-3. A Temple hitting error and kill from Brinkley gave the Cougars their first lead since the opening set, 4-3. A solo block from Larkins pushed the lead to 5-3, and a block from Brinkley extended the Cougars' run to 6-3, forcing an early timeout from Temple. Back-to-back hitting errors from Temple gave the Cougars a 9-4 advantage—their largest lead of the match thus far. Behind a kill and service ace from Nalls, Temple burned another timeout after the Cougars' lead grew to 14-6. The Cougars continued to roll out of the timeout, with an explosive kill from Ortega making it 15-6. Ortega struck again later in the set, extending the lead to 18-8. A huge block from Larkins and Nalls put the Cougars up 20-9. Carter's powerful serving caused back-to-back Temple errors, increasing the lead to 22-9. Nalls added another kill for 23-10, and Brinkley followed with a kill of her own to reach set point at 24-12. A final Temple error sealed the set, 25-13, as the Cougars dominated to stay alive in the match.

The Cougars put up the first point with a kill from Brinkley – the first time they scored the first point of a set in the match. Carter followed with a service ace to extend the lead. Temple responded with two points of their own before a block from Brinkley gave the Cougars a 3-2 advantage. Layman then scored on a service ace, and a kill by Ugorji pushed the lead to 5-3. Temple rallied to even the score at 7-7, but a trio of kills from Ugorji, Ortega, and Carter put the Cougars back on top at 10-8. Down 12-15, the Cougars took a timeout and came out firing, going on an 11-point run featuring kills from Nalls and Ortega (2), a block from Nalls, and two service aces from Foutz. A kill from Carter sealed the set for the Cougars and evened the match 2-2.

Carrying the momentum from the previous set, the Cougars struck first with a kill from Carter. Temple responded with a brief rally, tying the score at 6-6, but the Cougars quickly regained control with a four-point surge highlighted by three powerful kills from Ortega. Leading 11-7, the Cougars forced a Temple timeout. Ortega added another kill out of the break to make it 12-8, and a Temple hitting error extended the lead to 13-9—just two points away from the win. Ortega delivered once more with a kill, and Brinkley followed with the final point to clinch the set, the match, and the Cougars' first conference victory of the season.

 WHAT COACH WELLS HAD TO SAY:

"Securing our first conference win of the season is a significant achievement, especially considering our team is composed primarily of freshmen," Wells said. "This means they are relatively young and still gaining game experience, particularly at the Division I college level. They demonstrated remarkable resilience by coming back to win in five sets — a truly impressive feat. The leadership of Andrea, Oge, Parker and Emily was instrumental in guiding the team to this victory. Their performance exemplified the strength and determination needed to elevate the team to the next level as the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.' The team is diligently working to enhance both their skills and mental fortitude. Their dedication and progress are commendable."

MATCH NOTES

  • Set a new season-high record in kills with 46 (prev. record was 42 vs Richland Aug. 31).
  • Set a new season-high record in digs with 80 (prev. record was 61 digs vs Dallas College Cedar Valley Aug. 22)
  • Set a new season-high record in assists with 42 (prev. record was 41 vs Richland Aug. 31)
  • Recorded 11 service aces—second straight match with double-digit service aces, and fourth match of the season with double-digit service aces.
  • Multiple Cougars set personal and team bests
    • Carter – set a career-high in service aces (3)
    • Foutz – recorded a career-high in digs (11)
    • Ortega – set a career-high and season-high in kills (14)
    • Torres – set a career-high and season-high record for number of digs in a single match (29)
  • Cougars are now 1-0 in five-set matches and recorded their first reverse sweep

 UP NEXT

The Cougars look to go 2-0 in conference as they meet Hill College (3-4, 0-1) on the road Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. before returning home to the Frisco Campus on Sept. 8 to take on Dallas College Brookhaven at 6 p.m. in a non-conference match. Admission is free for staff and students with an ID.