The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Michigan State
Top-seeded Volleyball downs Michigan State to advance to the NCAA Regional semifinals
12.03.2011 | Volleyball
Dec. 3, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The top-seeded Texas Volleyball team used a stellar 16-block performance to notch its second sweep in as many days and knock off Michigan State in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Championship, Saturday night. The25-11, 25-18, 25-22 victory improved the Longhorns to 24-4 on the season and advanced UT to the NCAA Lexington Regional semifinals.
National freshman of the year candidate Haley Eckerman registered a match-best 12 kills to lead a Texas offense that hit .379 on the night. Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Webster connected for nine kills on .571 hitting, while Texas' middle blocker tandem of senior All-America middle blocker Rachael Adams and freshman middle blocker Madelyn Hutson combined for 11 kills on 20 swings. Adams led the Horns' blocking effort with eight total blocks and three solos and Hutson chipped in seven total blocks.
In the first, Texas took advantage of seven team blocks to cruise to a 25-11 set victory. Three block assists by sophomore setter Hannah Allison fueled a 9-2 Texas run that gave UT a quick 15-6 lead. The Horns went on to close out the frame with another 9-2 run headlined by two block assists and a kill by Hutson.
Michigan State (22-12) kept the tally tight early in the second and led the Horns at the 10-9 mark. Texas bounced back with a 7-2 rally capped by an Adams/McNeal block that put UT in front 16-12. Michigan State stayed close down the stretch before a 5-1 set-closing run capped by a Hutson ace clinched a 25-18 set win for the Longhorns.
After leading to open the third, Texas surrendered a 6-1 Michigan State rally that gave the Spartans a two-point lead at the 12-10 mark. The Longhorns responded with a 7-0 run highlighted by six consecutive points that Eckerman had a hand in (four kills, two block assists) to claim a 17-12 lead. Down the stretch, Texas had to withstand a 5-1 Michigan State rally, but eventually captured the set 25-22 on Eckerman's 12th kill of the night.
Texas returns to action on Friday, Dec. 9 when it takes on Kentucky in the NCAA Lexington Regional semifinals.
POST-MATCH NOTES
Texas
-Texas is making its 28th NCAA Championship appearance, including the eighth in a row.
-Texas is now 64-26 all-time in the NCAA Championship.
-Texas will make its 24th NCAA Championship Regional Semifinal appearance.
-Texas improved to 15-0 at Gregory Gym this season and won its 35th consecutive home match.
-Texas improved to 14-2 in three-set matches.
-Rachael Adams moved into fifth place on Texas career list for block assists (375).
-Rachael Adams moved into ninth place on Texas career list for total blocks (410).
-Rachael Adams played in her 18th postseason match to move into fifth place on the Texas career list.
-Rachael Adams equaled Lauren Paolini's Texas postseason career record for block assists with 56.
-Rachael Adams moved into third place on the Texas postseason total blocks list with 59.
-Rachael Adams' eight total blocks is tied for eighth on the Texas postseason single-match list.
-Rachael Adams' three solo blocks is tied for sixth on the Texas postseason single-match list.
-Madelyn Hutson's seven block assists is tied for ninth on the Texas postseason single-match list.
Michigan State
-Michigan State is making its 14th NCAA Championship appearance.
-Michigan State is 14-14 in NCAA Championship action.
-Jenilee Rathje played in her 142nd career match to set the Michigan State school record.
-Jenilee Rathje moved into 10th place on Michigan State's single-season list for kills with 505.
-Jenilee Rathje reached the 1,500-plateau for career kills with 1,504.
-Natalie Emro moved into third place on Michigan State's career assists list with 3,784.
-Alexis Mathews moved into sixth place on Michigan State' single-season list for total blocks with 155.
