The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Colorado
No. 10 Volleyball rolls past Colorado, 3-0
10.30.2010 | Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2010
BOULDER, Colo. -- The 10th-ranked Texas Volleyball team used a team-best 16.5-point effort by senior All-America outside hitter Juliann Faucette to down Colorado, 3-0, Saturday night at the Coors Event Center. The 25-22, 25-19, 25-5 victory extended UT's winning streak to eight matches and improved the Longhorns to 16-5 on the year and 11-2 in Big 12 play, while Colorado dropped to 6-13 overall and 3-10 in league action.
Faucette connected for 11 kills on .360 hitting in the win and added a career-high tying five solo blocks, one block assist and eight digs. Junior outside hitter Amber Roberson registered 14 kills and posted a .423 attack mark, while junior setter Michelle Kocher led the Horns to a .433 hitting percentage and tallied 40 assists and nine digs.
In the first, Colorado played Texas to a tie at the 10-all mark, but the Horns responded, using a 4-1 run fueled by two kills from senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris to take a 19-14 edge. The Buffaloes rallied to close the margin to one at the 21-20 mark and tied the frame at 22 apiece. A kill by sophomore opposite hitter Sha'Dare McNeal broke the tie and a double-block by McNeal and junior middle blocker Rachael Adams forced set point. Texas closed out the set 25-22 on a CU attack error.
Texas grabbed an early lead in the second stanza, taking advantage of two kills by Roberson to earn a 6-3 lead. Colorado then mounted a 9-2 run paced by two kills each from Rosie Steinhaus and Anicia Santos to erase the deficit and put the Buffs in front, 12-8. The Horns answered with an 8-2 run highlighted by three kills and a block by Roberson that gave UT a 16-14 edge. A 5-1 Longhorns rally capped by an Adams solo block extended the Texas lead to 22-17 and Adams went on to close out the frame, 25-19 with her third kill of the set.
The Longhorns came out on fire in the third and stayed hot for the duration with Roberson connecting for four quick kills to give UT a 6-1 lead. Texas blew the set open quickly, using a 17-1 run fueled by five kills, four solo blocks and one block assist from senior All-America outside hitter Juliann Faucette to end the set, 25-5.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 6 when it hosts Oklahoma at Gregory Gymnasium. First serve is set for 4 p.m. Central.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- Texas' win improved its all-time record against Colorado to 26-8 and 12-4 in Boulder. UT has won its last 14 meetings with the Buffaloes.
- Juliann Faucette's five solo block effort equaled her career-high she posted against Iowa State on Sept. 18, 2009.
POST-MATCH QUOTES
Head coach Jerritt Elliott
General statement: I was very pleased with the way we bounced back today after a big win over Nebraska on Wednesday night. It was an emotional victory against Nebraska and we showed good focus by coming out tonight and taking care of our side of the net. We struggled a little in the first two sets, but we talked to the team in the locker room after the second set and they were very responsive in the third. It is very nice to see your team take coaching and put it into action.
On Juliann Faucette's eruption in the third set: Juliann has always been a player that can take over a match at any point. She has been able to do that on occasion this season and the third set tonight was one of the times. She was dominant offensively and defensively late in the set. She along with Amber (Roberson) took the team on their backs in the third and it was impressive to watch.
