Point Texas: Longhorn Volleyball Heads Back to the Final Four
After a 27-2 season and an undefeated run in the Big 12, it’s no wonder the top-seeded Texas Volleyball team is headed back to the NCAA Division I National Championship this week.
A group of burnt-orange-clad volleyball fans—which included Texas Ex and Olympian Ricky Berens, BBA ’10—gathered in Gregory Gym earlier today to see the lady Horns off to Seattle, where they will attempt to defend their championship title in KeyArena starting this Thursday.
The reigning Big 12 and NCAA champs enter this year’s semifinals with some impressive numbers already under their belts: 23 consecutive wins, 97 days without a loss, and 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament wins—a school record. The team has also recently picked up seven regional honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, including a coach of the year honor for head coach Jerritt Elliott and a freshman of the year nod for middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu.
This Thursday marks the Longhorns’ ninth overall appearance in the NCAA Semifinals, and their fifth since 2008. They’ll first take on 12th-seeded Wisconsin, who ended the season with a 27-9 overall record. If the Horns win, they’ll face the victor of the Washington-Penn State matchup at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Many Longhorn fans would love to see Texas get its revenge against the No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions, who downed the Horns in a heartbreaking five-set match in 2009 to win the championship title. But we’ll just have to wait and see how the semifinals shake out first.
Catch all the volleyball action on ESPN 2 this week. Check TexasSports.com for updates and time information.
Photo via Texas Exes Instagram.
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