The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
Adams, Faucette pace No. 8 Volleyball's sweep of Texas A&M
11.24.2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2010
Box Score | 
| Post-match interviews 
AUSTIN, Texas -- The eighth-ranked Texas Volleyball team used a pair of stellar hitting performances by senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette and junior middle blocker Rachael Adams to earn its 14th-straight victory and down Texas A&M, 3-0 in front of a sellout crowd at Gregory Gymnasium. The 26-24, 25-19, 25-22 win improved the Longhorns to 22-5 on the year and 17-2 in Big 12 action, while the Aggies dropped to 13-16 overall and 7-12 in the Big 12.
With tonight's victory, Texas earned a half-point in the annual State Farm Lone Star Showdown and now holds a 4.0-to-1.0 lead in this year's standings. This marks the seventh year of the Showdown, the all-sports athletic competition between Texas and Texas A&M. In order to win the Showdown, a school must acquire 10.0 points during the year.
Faucette connected for a match-high 16 kills, added nine digs and even sang the national anthem to celebrate her senior night. Adams hammered out 15 kills on 19 swings and hit .737 in the win, while sophomore opposite hitter Sha'Dare McNeal and junior outside hitter Amber Roberson each tallied eight kills. McNeal shored up the Horns' defense with a team-best 15 digs and hit .800 on 10 error-free swings.
In the first, Texas led 3-2 on an early kill by Adams, but quickly fell behind 11-7 after a 6-2 A&M run. The Longhorns fought back to close the margin to 14-13 on a solo block by Adams and claimed a 19-17 lead when a service ace by McNeal capped a 5-0 UT rally. The Aggies answered the Horns' run with a 6-0 rally of its own and claimed a 23-19 lead courtesy of three kills by Kelsey Black. Another kill by Black forced set point at the 24-21 mark, but Faucette posted three-straight kills to even the set at 24 before two A&M errors closed the set 26-24.
The Aggies played the Longhorns close in the second as well, tying the game at 11, but UT rallied with a 5-0 run fueled by three Adams kills to capture a 16-11 lead. Texas A&M narrowed the margin to three at the 17-14 mark and Faucette kept them at bay with three kills that pushed the tally to 21-17. A kill by McNeal extended the margin to 24-19 and a double-block by senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris and junior outside hitter Amber Roberson clinched the set, 25-19.
Texas led for the duration in the third frame, taking advantage of a pair of early kills by Doris to take an 8-4 edge. Texas A&M battled back to close the gap to 16-15, but the Horns answered quickly with a 3-0 rally to take a 19-15 lead. The Aggies did not quit, shrinking the lead to one at the 21-20 mark and again at 23-22. The Longhorns responded late with a kill by Adams to force match point and a Doris/McNeal double-block that lifted UT to a 25-22 set win.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 27 when it closes out its regular-season slate at No. 16 Iowa State. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Central at Hilton Coliseum.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- Texas' win over Texas A&M improved its all-time record against the Aggies to 68-23 and 34-5 in Austin.
- The Longhorns' win extended their season-best winning streak to 14 matches.
- Texas has now won its last 25 Big 12 matches at Gregory Gymnasium.
- Rachael Adams recorded 15 kills on 19 swings and hit .737 in the victory. The junior committed her lone attack error at the 23-22 mark in the third set.
POST-MATCH QUOTES
Head coach Jerritt Elliott
General statement: This was a special night for us to celebrate our seniors in front of a sellout crowd and playing the Aggies. I thought our team did a nice job getting comfortable after the first set. To have those fans behind us is very special. We ask them to come out for the regional tournament that we have in the NCAA in a couple weeks, because we need them to support us. Overall I thought we got great production from our middles and our right side, and really found our rhythm overall on the night. I am very pleased with our performance
On this senior class: They have been special. They were a big part of turning this program around. They have been to an Elite Eight, a Final Four and a National Championship game in their first three years. We'd like for them to have another shot at it this year. They are not only great performers on the court, but they have been great leaders. They have developed significantly in the last four years, on and off the court. When you have quality people in your program, it attracts other players. They have been a staple; we will always remember them as the foundation for this program turning around.
On the winning streak: I think we are playing well. We had some hiccups tonight in terms of our rhythm. Our pass-set-hit rhythm was a little off. We were able to overcome that. Most of that was probably due to the emotions of this match, but we are going to have a big test at Iowa State, it will be an important match for us. But overall, I feel good about it, and hopefully we'll be home for first and second round, and hopefully for the regional round.
Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette
On her senior night: I think anytime there is a lot of added emotions to a game, there is going to be a slower start or a little more jittery start, and that is what we saw tonight. Our team fights all the time and we pulled it together, and we came together at the end of that game and won, and that was an awesome feeling.
On her singing the national anthem: Michelle [Moriarty], Alyson [Jennings], Jen Christian and Brandy Magee were my seniors, freshman year. I always used to sing with my iPod in just oblivious to anything, and they asked me in a conversation, if I ever sang the national anthem, and I said yes. So, as there senior present, they asked me to do that. And in the next year, they asked me the same question and so on.
On the first-set finish: Anytime it gets really tight in the end, and it goes to over score, I just know our team can fight through that. We have been in that position many times throughout this season, so it is just a confidence level that comes with that. And we executed tonight, and Michelle [Kocher] put up a few good balls for me at the end.
On how the team feels heading into postseason: I still feel that we can get better, which is cool because we want to peak at the right time. But, we're feeling good with a lot of wins in a row as a Big 12 comes to an end, and we want to continue getting better in the practice gym. Going to Iowa State is going to be a huge test for us, they are a really good team in the Big 12, so that will be a good road trip for us.
Senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris
On if beating A&M tonight after they beat Texas in September shows the team's improvement: Well, I think we have definitely improved a ton since last match. Anytime you play a big time rivalry match, you want to go out there and beat them. I'm just proud of our team the way we came out and fought and we were able to pull it out.
On this game being her last regular-season game at Gregory Gym: It was a great night. We had a huge fan turnout, which means a lot to us. The girls fought really hard tonight, and it was just a great feeling. It was so weird to think that this was my last home game here, and to walk out there and get my jersey, it means a lot that Coach Elliott gave me a chance to play here.
