The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
21-4, 13-2
Kansas State
19-9, 8-7
Elliott reaches 400 wins as No. 7 Volleyball takes down Kansas State, 3-1
11.19.2016 | Volleyball
Senior Paulina Prieto Cerame posted 17 kills, hitting .355.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Texas Volleyball (20-4, 12-2) handed head coach Jerritt Elliott his 400th win at the helm for the Longhorns, downing Kansas State (19-9, 8-7) inside Gregory Gym on Saturday evening, 3-1 (25-10, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17).
Senior Paulina Prieto Cerame led the Longhorns with 17 kills, hitting .355, also adding four digs and three blocks.
Freshman Micaya White posted 15 kills and two service aces. Junior Ebony Nwanebu joined her in double figures with 10 kills behind a .625 hitting percentage, while freshman Morgan Johnson tied her career-high hitting percentage (.800) with nine kills on the match and two aces.
Junior Cat McCoy posted a match-high 12 digs, and senior Chloe Collins notched 46 assist on the evening.
As a team, the Longhorns held a .449 hitting percentage with 56 kills on 98 swings. Texas held Kansas State to a .195 clip, marking the ninth time in the past 10 matches the Horns have contained their opponent to below the .200 mark.
Texas outblocked Kansas State, 13-5, and posted five services aces to the Wildcats' two.
Both teams struggled from the service line to open the match, but a 5-1 Texas run forced a Kansas State timeout with the Longhorns holding an 11-5 edge. The Horns never looked back, and three-straight kills from Prieto-Cerame sealed the opening set for Texas, 25-10, marking the fewest points the Longhorns have allowed in a set in the Big 12 season.
The Horns continued to push ahead in the second, jumping out on a 10-3 stretch in the start of the second stanza. Texas never let Kansas State within seven points of the lead, and the Longhorns used a .714 clip to close the set, 25-15.
The Wildcats found some momentum in the third set, putting up the equalizer three times before taking their first lead of the night, 8-7, after two consecutive double blocks. Kansas State continued to drive forward, avoiding the sweep shutout and winning the third, 25-20.
After tying things at seven, Texas used a 7-0 rally in the heart of the set to jump out to a 20-9 lead. The Wildcats put up a last-chance effort, fending off three match points, but it wasn't enough as the Longhorn closed the set and match, 25-17.
Texas will continue its homestead stay against West Virginia next Saturday, Nov. 26. The opening serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be carried live on Longhorn Network. Seniors Nicole Dalton, Chloe Collins, Paulina Prieto Cerame and Kate Palladino will be honored after the match.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Jerritt Elliott
On his 400th win at UT: It's another game. I wasn't aware of it, it means that I have a job still and that's my most important thing. I don't really care about the wins for me personally, its more about developing the team and trying to do what we need to do, but it's always nice and I hope I get a couple hundred more here at Texas.
On the team's play in recent games: I think we're playing our best volleyball right now in these last two matches. When you look at the first two games and we're 24 out of 26 sideout percentage, it's really good, so for us. It's about keeping our confidence and really just locking in for longer periods of time. We just took a little break from the defensive side in game three and that can't happen. I think the team's energy is good, I think they're chemistry is good, I think they're self-talk and looking to each other is a lot better right now. Our passing is the best it has been. When we're good we're really good and I think our touches are starting to get a lot better defensively. I think we're starting to play some really good defense and I like what I'm seeing right now.
Senior Outside Hitter Paulina Prieto Cerame
On blocking: Our coaches are constantly on us about taking care of our individual jobs and staying on each other. Staying focused has been the biggest thing in us being able to do it.
Senior Setter Nicole Dalton
On tonight's energy: I think we've been working really hard at in practice this week. It has been a good week of practice and I think we've been building on that each day we come in.
Senior Setter Chloe Collins
On practices: We start noticing at practices where we're not having that urgency. We need to just put more priority on every touch that we have, especially going into the tournament. We just need to make sure we're focused and bring that into the game.
