The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Wichita State
Haley Eckerman leads Volleyball to 3-2 exhibition win over Wichita State
04.06.2013 | Volleyball
April 6, 2013
Box Score 
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Box Score |
AUSTIN, Texas - Rising junior All-America outside hitter Haley Eckerman posted 25 kills, 14 digs, five services aces and one block to lead defending national champion Texas Volleyball to a 3-2 (25-14, 25-16, 23-25, 21-25, 15-11) exhibition victory over Wichita State in a match presented by Dunkin' Donuts at Gregory Gym on Saturday afternoon. The 2012 NCAA Championship banner was raised to the historic gym's rafters in a post-game ceremony.
Rising sophomore libero/outside hitter Amy Neal posted 10 kills to go along with three services aces, nine digs and one assist. Graduating senior Sha'Dare McNeal registered eight kills on 12 attempts with only one error (.583), while rising senior setter Hannah Allison recorded 28 assists and nine digs. Incoming freshman setter Chloe Collins posted four kills on six attempts with one error for a .500 hitting clip, and she added 18 assists and three digs.
The Shockers were led by rising sophomore outside hitter Katie Reilly with 11 kills and 13 digs.
Leading 5-2 early in the first set, a pair of back-to-back kills from Eckerman launched a streak of six unanswered points for the Horns. Eckerman registered six kills on nine attempts (.667) in the opening set as well as two service aces. Neal and rising junior Khat Bell each registered three kills in the first set for Texas, who posted a .500 hitting percentage as a team for the set.
Leading 15-8 in the second set, the Longhorns went on a 6-1 run to push their advantage to 21-9. Despite three unanswered points from Wichita State at set point, a kill from Eckerman finished the set for UT.
Momentum swung in favor of the Shockers in the third. The set remained close throughout and included nine ties and four lead changes. Tied at 8-8, the Longhorns put together a 7-1 run to build an 18-12 edge. WSU regained the lead with seven unanswered points of its own. Trailing 22-20, Wichita State closed out the set with a 5-1 run.
The fourth set was tight as well and included nine ties. Trailing 15-14, WSU took control with six straight points to take a 20-15 lead. UT responded with a 5-1 run later, highlighted by a pair of kills from McNeal and kills from rising sophomore middle blocker Molly McCage and Collins, to close the gap to 22-21. The Shockers clinched the set with three straight points.
Trailing 10-8 in the fifth set, the Longhorns registered six straight points on McNeal's serve, including three kills from Eckerman. After a kill from Reilly slimmed the deficit to 14-11, an Eckerman kill closed out the victory for Texas.
The Longhorns resume their spring schedule with a home exhibition match against New Mexico State on Saturday, April 13. First serve is set for Noon at Gregory Gym, and the match will be televised by Longhorn Network.
(UT)
