The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
13-0, 5-0
Texas Tech
14-3, 2-3
No. 2 Volleyball sweeps Texas Tech to tie home-winning streak
10.09.2014 | Volleyball
Texas ties the home winning streak with 33-straight wins at Gregory Gym
AUSTIN, Texas -- No. 2 Texas volleyball (13-0, 5-0) matched the all-time Longhorn home winning streak with 33-straight wins at Gregory Gym on Thursday after sweeping Texas Tech, 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19).
The streak dates back to the 2012 season when the Horns won 33-straight before falling to No. 23 Illinois on Sept. 14.
Texas is now 27-0 in the all-time series against Texas Tech (14-3, 2-3) under Jerritt Elliott. The Longhorns have yet to drop a set at home this season, sweeping the first six opponents.
Senior Khat Bell led the Horns with 10 kills and one block, while three other players registered nine kills, including sophomore Paulina Prieto Cerame who also notched five blocks.
Senior Haley Eckerman and sophomore Chiaka Ogbogu also finished with nine kills.
The Texas defense held the Red Raiders to a .158 hitting percentage during the match.
In a back-and-forth opening set that saw 10 ties, both teams executed runs. Knotted at six, Texas had three different players record a kill to go on a 7-2 run, before five consecutive Texas Tech points tied it back up at 15. UT closed out the set with a 7-1 run with three kills from Eckerman, to win, 25-19. Texas held Texas Tech to a .125 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
The Longhorns started out strong in the second set, led by two kills apiece from Eckerman and Cerame, to build an early 5-1 lead. From there, UT never looked back and led by as many as six. Cerame came up big in the end by recording two blocks and a kill to help score three of the last four points to give the Horns the second set, 25-17. Texas recorded 14 kills on a .407 kill percentage in the second set.
Trailing 8-4 in the third frame, Texas used a timeout and bounced back to tie it at nine. Texas Tech would regain the lead, but Bell fired off two kills to tie the score at 17, forcing a Texas Tech timeout. Bell continued where she left off and recorded a block and a kill to give Texas its first lead of the set, 19-17. From there, the Longhorns didn't let up and finished the match on a 10-2 run, to win 25-19.
Breeann David led Texas Tech with 13 kills and two blocks.
Texas resumes Big 12 Conference action by traveling to Manhattan, Kansas to face the Kansas State Wildcats next Saturday, October 18th. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. Central.
Postgame Comments
Head Coach Jerritt Elliott
On tonight's win: First of all, I thought Texas Tech played extremely well. I think they came out and played. I was saying during the match that we were getting pushed and they were doing some nice things from their side of the net. We had to be good with our routines. I thought our team, first of all, showed up and was ready to compete, which was important. We sided out on the first seven balls that we had. I think this team is building confidence. I think they are getting better in the routines. I thought we performed and had great balance once again tonight. It was a good test for us and I was very, very pleased.
On getting pushed in the first and third sets: I think our standards – which is what we've been talking about with the team – is that they have to create a dynamic and a control of how we want to be as a team and how we execute on our side regardless how other teams come against us. I thought we did that. I thought we were emotionally ready to play. We just stayed steady. When you are able to be that steady, it puts so much pressure on teams like Tech and at some point they are not able to sustain that level. So we were better with our routines and we out-lasted them emotionally and mentally. We got great balance from our outsides.
On winning three games in five games: This is probably the best – I mean we've put two matches together. That's important. We are building off of that. I think our team is more comfortable playing next to each other. The more we are able to sustain that lineup and stay in it, I think we are in a good position. More importantly, I think with this young group, the leadership is starting to take control on their own. That's what you look for as a staff. You look for certain things and you try to get them to implement that. At the end of the day, the great teams have great leadership and internal drives themselves. This team is starting to take the accountability and preparation and learning from the times that we didn't do that earlier in the season.
Sophomore OH Paulina Prieto Cerame
On the team's plays: I thought we had some good adjustments throughout the game. Like Jerritt said, we have to do the same things over time and that's what's going to outlast the other teams. I think we made some good adjustments and we played well and we are getting better. I'm excited for our next game.
