The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Engle returns and leads No. 7 Volleyball past Texas Tech, 3-1
09.26.2007 | Volleyball
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The seventh-ranked Texas Volleyball team used four double-digit kill efforts to knock off Texas Tech, 3-1 (30-17, 26-30, 30-20, 30-17), Wednesday night at United Spirit Arena. Texas' victory moved the Longhorns to 7-3 on the year and 3-1 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech fell to 7-7 overall and 1-4 in conference.
The Longhorns welcomed back opposite hitter Ashley Engle against the Red Raiders after the sophomore missed seven matches with an injury. Engle hammered out 15 kills on the night and posted a career-best nine total blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Destinee Hooker headlined the Horns on the night with a match-high 21 kills on .500 hitting and chipped in a career-best eight total blocks. Freshman outside hitter Juliann Faucette and junior middle blocker Lauren Paolini joined them in double figures with 10 kills apiece.
Texas jumped out to an early lead in the first game and would not look back, taking advantage of two Hooker kills that paced a 4-0 run and gave the Horns a 9-4 lead. The Longhorns widened the margin to19-10 with a pair of Texas Tech errors and moved their lead to 11 on a kill by senior middle blocker Brandy Magee at the 25-14 mark. The Red Raiders battled back to narrow the gap to eight, but Texas answered with a 5-0 run, closing out the game, 30-17. Engle notched five kills in game one, while Hooker registered six kills on .750 hitting.
After trailing to start game two, the Red Raiders rallied to claim the lead on a Longhorns' error at the 4-3 mark and they would hold the lead for the duration. Tech added to its lead with a 4-0 run at the 9-8 mark pushing its advantage to 13-8. The Longhorns trimmed the Raiders' advantage to two on a Hooker kill, but Tech responded by going on a pair of 3-0 runs to extend its lead to 23-17. Texas answered with a 5-1 run of its own, however, Texas Tech would prove to be too much down the stretch, capping the game, 30-26 on a block by Emily Ziegler and Amy Gandy.
The Longhorns fell behind early in the third stanza, but used a 3-0 run to rally back and take a 13-12 edge. UT stretched its lead behind a 5-1 run, using two points from Magee to move the tally to 16-13. Texas Tech kept the score close, but a 3-0 run capped by an Engle kill widened the UT lead to 24-18. The Red Raiders added two more points, but it was all Longhorns late, using a 4-0 run and three Hooker kills to close out the game, 30-20.
Texas ran out to a quick lead in the fourth frame, taking advantage of two Tech errors and two Faucette kills to post six straight points and claim an 11-4 edge. The Longhorns dominated from that point on, pushing the lead to 12 points on a Magee kill that widened the margin to 23-11. Hooker paced the Horns' attack down the stretch with two kills that helped UT to a 30-17 game four victory.
Engle added six digs and five assists to her all-around performance, while Faucette and Paolini each tallied 10 kills. Senior setter Michelle Moriarty posted her third assist/dig double-double of the season, registering 52 assists and a match-high 12 digs. Magee posted a career-best 11 block assists and eight kills in the victory.
The Longhorns return to action Friday, Sept. 28 when they play host to Big 12 foe Colorado at Gregory Gymnasium. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Jerritt Elliott
On the match: Our focus coming in tonight was our blocking and our defense. We set a goal in each category and we reached both of those goals against Texas Tech. I thought we played well in games one, three and four. You have to stay focused in this conference and play at a steady level and we didn't do that in game two.
On the return of Ashley Engle: It was good to have Ashley Engle back in the lineup. She is working hard to find a rhythm and get her volleyball legs back. She brings a lot of experience to the table for our team and she does some really nice things in all six rotations. She had a huge night blocking and overall I am very pleased with her first performance back.
On Texas' blocking: Blocking has been a focus this week. We have to get better defensively and in order to win at the next level we have to be able to put up some big numbers on the blocking and defensive side. Overall I was pleased with our blocking tonight.
SOPHOMORE OPPOSITE HITTER Ashley Engle
On returning to the Texas lineup: It has been way too long. It was an amazing feeling to be back out there. I remembered how much I love playing volleyball, how much I love Texas and playing with my teammates.
On the victory: It's always great to win. We had a little struggle in game two. I know my teammates have to adjust their rhythm with me being in the lineup, but hopefully we will get things going and keep winning.
