Texas travels to Kansas St

[bigfan]

Horns travel north to face tough Cats
Kansas State scrappy against Texas earlier, close game expected
By Brad Gray

For the Texas volleyball team, it's a good thing that second chances come around.

The No. 8 Longhorns (19-5) travel to Manhattan, Kan. tonight for a match against Kansas State (10-17). On Sep. 30, Texas narrowly defeated the Wildcats in a 3-2 home match, which broke a two-game losing streak against lesser-ranked Big 12 opponents.

"They played us hard last time," head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "We're going to need a complete team effort to beat them again."

Although the Longhorns got the win, the close margin of victory coupled with the earlier loss to Oklahoma that week hurt them in the polls and dropped their national ranking down to No. 11.

Tonight what Elliott describes as a transformed team will be facing the Wildcats again.

"We're playing significantly better than we were at that time," Elliott said. "We've got more bounce in our step."

After the football team's upending loss against Kansas State last weekend, coach Mack Brown can only sit and envy the volleyball team's opportunity to repay the Wildcats.

Elliott has been preparing his players for the upcoming NCAA tournament by lightening their loads a little bit.

"We're getting a little bit more rest," Elliott said. "I gave them a real light day yesterday and today was even easier so they'll have more energy."

The tournament begins Nov. 30 and if the Longhorns don't collapse in the next two weeks, they could host their first and second round matches at Gregory Gym.

Texas has one big hurdle to get through before the tournament: No. 1 Nebraska, which they face on Nov. 25.

After tonight's match and their last home match this Saturday against Iowa State (18-8), the Longhorns travel north for Thanksgiving to face the Cornhuskers, who suffered their first loss of the season this Saturday against Colorado.

After Texas' Oct. 18 loss to Nebraska which was decided by only two points, Destinee Hooker expressed her anticipation towards the rematch.

"We know next time it's going to be a war," she told the Texan. "We're not just going to lay down."

[vbobsessed]

I'm looking forward to this match. The last time these two met, KSU won the first 2 games, but UT won in 5. (not pretty). I am hoping that a more well rested TEXAS team (as per Elliott) will dominate. KSU's Lastra at OH does not worry me as much as Lastra at Libero.

[texas22]

yeah Lastra just likes to tool the block...which if she is hitting on Michelle will kill us. Lets just hope it will be against Engle. Texas has been playing pretty solid, I hope they can continue to play this way!

[UTFan]

Michelle basher, er.... Texas22 the stats show Michelle with 5 block assists and Lastra hitting .153. Will you get off her back?


Despite how much you want the change, doesn't look like Jerritt will grant your wish.

[texas22]

yeah one game, she is a good setter i just think a 6-2 is a better option. we all know jerritt though, why would i expect him to use common sense? i am happy she had 5 block assists, but we will see how it fares down the stretch. It will never work against teams like Nebraska. We played them well when their hitters were hitting bad, once they were on track, we lost!

[Tex_VB_Fan]

texas22 said:

yeah one game, she is a good setter i just think a 6-2 is a better option. we all know jerritt though, why would i expect him to use common sense? i am happy she had 5 block assists, but we will see how it fares down the stretch. It will never work against teams like Nebraska. We played them well when their hitters were hitting bad, once they were on track, we lost!

You will NOT see a 6-2 from Texas anytime soon! Engle attacking from the backrow is too valuable!!!!! Jenny Andrew coming in for Moriarty in the front row is more realistic then running a 6-2 with Engle.

[texas22]

calhornfan said:

texas22 said:

yeah one game, she is a good setter i just think a 6-2 is a better option. we all know jerritt though, why would i expect him to use common sense? i am happy she had 5 block assists, but we will see how it fares down the stretch. It will never work against teams like Nebraska. We played them well when their hitters were hitting bad, once they were on track, we lost!

You will NOT see a 6-2 from Texas anytime soon! Engle attacking from the backrow is too valuable!!!!! Jenny Andrew coming in for Moriarty in the front row is more realistic then running a 6-2 with Engle.

that is what i really wanted but i got murdered when i mentioned it...a 6-2 will probably be run next year when there will be hitting options everywhere. Playing the big schools like Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State, etc...we will get killed with Michelle blocking, they hit right over her.

Lets look at her blocks against top programs

Penn State- 1 assist block (5 games)
Santa Clara- 0 blocks (3 games)
Nebraska- 2 assist blocks (5 games)
Washington- 5 assist blocks (5 games)

i could not get the pepperdine results to pull up. out of these, she only put up good numbers against washington. she has good blocking nights when here middles are blocking well, so she can get the assist. i just feel like when we see these types of teams late in the season we are putting ourselves into a bad spot.

but best of luck to Texas, you have my support. jerritt does not!