The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
4-0
Nebraska
3-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 17 | 25 | 15 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| Texas | 25 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
09.04.2015 | Volleyball
Junior Ebony Nwanebu finished with 22 kills and 17 digs to lead the Longhorns.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 3 Texas Volleyball defeated No. 4 Nebraska in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11) at Gregory Gym on Friday evening.
Nwanebu posted a team-high 22 kills on a .315 hitting percentage, while also recording a career-high 17 digs and no receiving errors, four blocks and two assists.
Senior Amy Neal also finished with double-digit kills with 12, while also adding nine digs and two aces, while sophomore Cat McCoy led the Longhorns with 19 digs and no receiving errors.
Junior Chloe Collins tied her career in assists with 46 and also posted double-digit digs with 13. Senior Kat Brooks also finished with double-digit digs with 11.
Junior Chiaka Ogbogu had a team-high eight blocks, while senior Molly McCage was not far behind with seven and junior Paulina Prieto Cerame added six.
As a team, the Horns outblocked the Huskers, 15.0 to 6.0 and hit .242 to their .144.
With the win, Texas improved to 4-0 on the season and 5-0 vs. Nebraska in their last five meetings.
The first set was an early taste of how the match would go as neither team led by more than two until the Huskers broke through to take a 13-10 lead. From there, the Longhorns went on a 12-1 run to lead 22-14, with two kills by Ogbogu. Nebraska could not close the gap as Nwanebu had two kills in the final five points to seal the first set for Texas, 25-17.
The Huskers won the first two points of the second set, taking control with little runs to maintain a steady lead and lead by as many as five. Texas rallied back and pulled to within three, but could not close the gap. Nebraska took set two, 25-21.
The Longhorns regained control in set three, leading early before erupting on a 7-0 run to take a 14-5 lead with kills from Neal and Collins. Nebraska tried to rally, but could not narrow the score to less than seven and Texas took set three, 25-15.
Texas opened set four with a big block from McCage and Prieto Cerame and jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but receiving errors allowed the Huskers to tie the score back at four. Three-straight kills from Prieto Cerame and Nwanebu and an ace from senior Kat Brooks stretched the Longhorns' lead to 9-5. Texas maintained its lead until the Huskers executed a 6-2 run and tied the score at 18. A McCage kill and Neal ace gave the Longhorns a 20-18 advantage, but Nebraska tied it again at 21. Neither team could pull away by more than two until the Huskers took the set, 25-23.
In the fifth set, Nebraska took an early advantage, jumping out to a 6-3 lead. Kills from Neal and Ogbogu and a big block caught the Longhorns up and tied it back at six. After three more ties, Neal posted back-to-back kills to take an 11-8 lead, but Nebraska tied it once again at 11-11. Texas closed the set on a 4-0 run to win, 15-11 and take the match, 3-2.
Texas will return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 5 to take on No. 4 Florida at 2 p.m. at Gregory Gym.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Jerritt Elliott
On the rivalry with Nebraska: It's a big rivalry. Both teams are good and it's exciting to be a part of. They are very well-coached with John (Cook), disciplined and they have good balance everywhere. They are going to be a tough team come tournament time because of their balance and ability to pass the ball.
On coming back to win the fifth set: I told them to take a deep breath, we've been going on runs all night long and to have confidence in that. Credit our servers--we made some good plays when we were able to serve the ball and we made good transition plays.
On competitiveness of tournament: We are kind of trying to figure out where our team stands. Yesterday was one of the most chaotic practices we've ever had and I came into this morning not knowing what team we had, but they came in focused and ready to play.
On Texas' defensive pressure: Not only our blocking, but our defense as a whole was good. We just kept coming at them and when you are blocking and playing defense well, it puts a tremendous amount of stress on them.
Junior Outside Hitter Ebony Nwanebu
On starting her Texas career with the game against Nebraska: I have been waiting to play Nebraska, so it was exciting. It felt good to be on the court again and play well.
On having her family at the match: My mother and brother came tonight and they mean the world to me, so it was really nice.
On serving in the final set: In that situation, I don't think anyone is totally calm. I just take a deep breath and think about it as another point--not the point, but just the next point you have to go get.
Senior Middle Blocker Molly McCage
On the competitiveness of the team: I am proud of my team being competitors. At the end of the day, everyone was ready to compete. They have amazing players, but we came out with what we had and beat them.
On Texas' defensive ability: I think it's huge. When you get blocked as a player, you feel like you got shut down. (Nebraska) tried to do something different and that's what generates the errors. If we come out and have a strong block, then they start getting timid, or they start making aggressive errors. Keeping that defensive pressure there is important for us.
