The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Wisconsin
No. 1 Volleyball preview: NCAA Semifinals & Championship [Dec. 19 & 21, 2013]
12.16.2013 | Volleyball
The Longhorns are making their fifth NCAA Semifinal appearance in the past six seasons.
Complete NCAA Championship guide
No. 1 seed TEXAS (27-2, 16-0 Big 12)
NCAA Semifinals & Championship | ESPN2 | KeyArena | Seattle
Texas' Streak: The Longhorns have won 23-consecutive matches since Sept. 14. When Texas takes the court Thursday evening against Wisconsin, it will mark 97 days since UT was last defeated. Texas has also won 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches dating back to last season's run to the national title. The 10 straight postseason wins are a school record.
Match #30: No. 12-seed Wisconsin (27-9, 12-8 Big Ten)
All-time Series vs. Badgers: Longhorns lead, 4-1 (H: 3-0, A: 1-1)
Last Meeting & Texas Win: Texas, 3-0 (Dec. 8, 2006; NCAA Austin Regional Semifinal)
Last Opponent Win: Wisconsin, 3-0 (Sept. 19, 1997; Madison, Wis.)
Match #31: No. 3-seed Washington (30-2, 18-2 Pac-12) OR No. 2-seed Penn State (32-2, 19-1 Big Ten)
All-time Series vs. Huskies: Longhorns lead, 4-1 (H: 0-1, A: 1-0, N: 3-0)
All-time Series vs. Nittany Lions: Nittany Lions lead, 11-8 (H: 1-3, A: 0-5, N: 7-3)
Television: The NCAA Semifinal and Championship matches will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Beth Mowins (pxp) and Karch Kiraly (analyst) will call the action and Maria Taylor will handle sideline duties.
Quick Hits
• Texas is making its ninth overall appearance in the NCAA Semifinals and its fifth in the past six seasons ... the defending national champions are 4-4 (.500) overall in national semifinal matches, including a 2-1 (.667) mark since 2009 ... Texas sports an overall record of 75-27 (.735) in NCAA Championships matches, including a 37-10 (.787) mark under head coach Jerritt Elliott.
• Senior outside hitter Bailey Webster was named the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player ... Webster hit a team-best .410 (30-5-61) on the weekend, including a .500 clip (12-0-24) in the sweep of the Huskers ... she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fellow Longhorns Hannah Allison, Khat Bell and Haley Eckerman.
NCAA REGIONAL FINAL AT #9 NEBRASKA [Dec. 14, 2013]
In winning its school-record 10th consecutive postseason match, Texas handed Nebraska a home sweep (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament … overall, Nebraska was swept in Lincoln for the first time in 24 years, dating back to a loss to No. 1 Hawaii on Oct. 2, 1989 … Texas also became the first No. 1 team to win in Lincoln since Penn State in 1999 … leading the way in the Longhorns' second regional final victory over Nebraska in five seasons was a strong block and an efficient night from All-Americans Haley Eckerman and Bailey Webster … Eckerman had 14 kills, while Webster produced 12 kills and hit .500 … together, the duo combined for 26 kills and only three errors on 73 swings, while Eckerman added a double-double with a team-high 15 digs … Khat Bell and Chiaka Ogbogu added seven kills each and Hannah Allison recorded 37 assists to help Texas hit .266 in the match … Molly McCage led a big blocking effort for the Longhorns with eight stuffs, helping Texas out-block Nebraska 14-3 … the block helped Texas to the sweep despite being out-killed and out-dug by Nebraska.
NCAA REGIONAL SEMIFINAL VS. AMERICAN [Dec. 13, 2013]
Khat Bell produced a season-high 16 kills against American, eclipsing her previous high of 13 against Kansas State ... Bell was just one shy of tying her career high of 17 kills, set in 2011 against SMU ... Chiaka Ogbogu matched her season and career high with 11 kills against American ... Sarah Palmer produced a season-high 25 digs in the win, eclipsing her previous high of 24 against Nebraska earlier this season.
HORNS PICK UP SEVEN AVCA ALL-SOUTHWEST REGION HONORS
Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott and freshman middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu headlined the Longhorns' seven American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I All-Southwest Region honors … Elliott earned his sixth coach of the year honor (2000, '04, '07, '10-11), while Ogbogu was tabbed freshman of the year … All-Americans Bailey Webster and Haley Eckerman each claimed all-region honors for the third straight year, while junior middle blocker Khat Bell picked up her second in as many seasons … senior setter Hannah Allison, sophomore middle blocker Molly McCage and Ogbogu are first time honorees.
