The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Faucette's career night lifts No. 8 Volleyball past Oklahoma, 3-1
11.06.2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 6, 2010
Box Score | Quotes | Notes Post-match interviews
AUSTIN, Texas -- The eighth-ranked Texas Volleyball team used a career-high 28-kill performance by senior All-America outside hitter Juliann Faucette to knock off Oklahoma, 3-1, Saturday evening at Gregory Gymnasium. The 25-12, 25-19, 21-25, 28-26 victory earned UT its ninth-straight win and improved the Longhorns to 17-5 on the year and 12-2 in Big 12 play, while the Sooners dropped to 17-8 overall and 9-5 in league action.
Faucette headlined the Horns attack, hitting .373 on 59 swings and added seven digs and three total blocks. Junior outside hitter Amber Roberson added 11 kills and middle blockers Jennifer Doris and Rachael Adams totaled double-digits with 10 kills apiece. Freshman libero Sarah Palmer notched a season-best 18 digs in the win, while junior setter Michelle Kocher posted her second assist/dig double-double of the season with 57 assists and 10 digs.
In the first set, Texas used two early kills and a block by sophomore opposite hitter Sha'Dare McNeal to claim an 8-3 lead. A 9-1 Horns' run fueled by two kills and a block from Faucette widened the margin to 18-7. Faucette added another kill to push the UT lead to 12 points and Doris closed out the set with a kill to lift the Horns to a 25-12 set win.
Faucette led the Horns to a quick start in the second frame with two early kills that allowed UT to grab a 9-3 lead. Oklahoma battled back to close the gap to two at the 15-13 mark before the Horns stretched its lead back to five on a kill by Faucette that moved the tally to 21-16. Adams connected for two kills down the stretch, including a set-ending kill that gave UT a 25-19 victory.
The Sooners played the Horns tight in the third and claimed a 7-5 edge in the early going before UT mounted a 5-0 rally paced by a block and a kill from McNeal that put the Horns ahead, 12-9. Oklahoma fought back to take a 20-15 lead on a kill by Sallie McLaurin and two-straight kills by Suzy Boulavsky closed out the set for the Sooners, 25-21.
Texas struggled to start the fourth stanza, falling behind 9-3 after McLaurin connected for three quick kills. The Sooners led by six at the 16-10 mark, but Texas didn't quit, going on an 8-1 run highlighted by four kills from Faucette to take an 18-17 lead. The Longhorns maintained the lead until a kill by Boulavsky and a solo block by Freudenrich gave OU a 24-23 edge. Two-straight kills by Faucette gave UT a 25-24 lead and after a service error, Faucette again forced match point with a kill. OU evened the tally once again at 26 before Faucette registered a kill and McNeal closed out the set, 28-26.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 10 when it travels to Baylor. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Central.
