The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Savannah State
09.16.2015 | Volleyball
The Longhorns will have their first road trip of the season at No. 16 Arizona.
WILDCAT CLASSIC
McKale Center (14,545) – Tucson, Ariz.
Friday, Sept. 18
No. 2 Texas vs. Savannah State – 2 p.m. CT
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 16 Arizona – 9 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 19
No. 2 Texas vs. New Mexico State – noon CT
Notes:
• The Longhorns enter the Wildcat Classic after sweeping the Texas Classic at Gregory Gym last weekend. The Horns didn't lose a set to UTSA (31-29, 25-21, 25-14), Santa Clara (25-21, 25-12, 25-23), or No. 14 Colorado State (25-20, 25-18, 25-19).
• The Longhorns earned their highest ranking of the year at No. 2 in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll (Sept. 14) ... The Longhorns have appeared in the Top 10 of the AVCA poll for 134 of the last 138 weeks ... Texas has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 for 143 consecutive weeks, dating back to 2004.
• Junior Chiaka Ogbogu earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after hitting over .500 in Texas' wins. She had just one error in 58 attempts and 37 kills. She also added two service aces, six digs and 11 blocks. Her .621 hitting percentage led the league, while she ranked second in points with an average of 4.94 and third in kills with 4.11.
• The trip to Tucson marks Texas' first road test of the season. After the weekend, the Longhorns will return and begin conference play (Wednesday, Sept. 23 vs. TCU).
MEDIA AVAILABILITY QUOTES
Head Coach Jerritt Elliott
On if he is pleased with the way the team played last weekend: Yeah, I think we played well for stretches. We came out a little slow, but we caught ourselves and then we kind of finished real strong. So that was nice to see, and you know those tournaments can be tough. We're in the gym basically 12 hours on Friday, and then have a big football game on Saturday and then have another match so, but I was pleased with our team's preparation and the way that we played, obviously got a good win there.
On hitting the road for the first time this season: It'll be great for us, you know, Arizona is a Pac-12 team that's very strong and it'll be great, but it'll be a new environment for us. I mean, the depth perception will be different playing at McKale Center. Luckily, we have a match to kind of warm up with against Savannah State, but it'll be a good match for us, and three matches within 24 hours, so we'll have to be, you know, both physically and mentally prepared to play at a high level.
On who has to step up with Ebony Nwanebu out: Yeah, you know, it hasn't changed a whole lot because she hasn't been in the lineup a lot. So, you know, Molly McCage has been the one that has been very giving and moved over to the right side with no complaints, and you know more of an offensively manner than in 2012 with Sha'Dare (McNeill). You know, there's some true benefits to it, but our passers just have to have a little more responsibility, keep us consistent.
On the team still playing well despite injuries: Yeah it shows the strength of our team, in a word, we're very deep. But yeah, we're missing, you know, arguably, two of our top players, they would be contributing and helping us, but we have a lot of confidence in the players we have out there and we feel like we can still contend and be in a good position and get ready for the Big 12.
Junior Middle Blocker Chiaka Ogbogu
On if they are excited to play on the road: Definitely, we've been in our gym for the past couple weeks now so, it's just going to be exciting to play in a new gym with a new atmosphere and new fans and all of that.
On what the new players need to know about playing on the road: Just the whole traveling aspect of it. It takes a lot out of you so just knowing that you have to go to bed earlier than you normally would, and have to hydrate, and then, also, just being in a different gym and getting used to the feel of that.
On if players are stepping up with others dealing with injuries: I think as a whole, the people who are playing have to step up. Yes we have a few injuries, but the people on the court contribute enough where it doesn't really make a difference. So everyone who is on the court just has to step up their game and contribute.
On the depth of the program: We have a lot of people who can contribute in different spots, not only during the games, but in practice and that helps us a lot. And both sides have been doing really well this past few weeks of helping each other out and competing really well.
