University Of Texas Volleyball moves on with sweep of Northwestern State

Article Posted by Texas Gazette.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Volleyball (24-2) defeated Northwestern State (16-17), 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at Gregory Gym.
The Longhorns will advance to play Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. at Gregory Gym. The Sun Devils defeated Texas A&M, 3-1 on Thursday afternoon.
Senior Haley Eckerman led Texas with 12 kills, three aces and three digs, while junior Molly McCage posted a season-high 10 kills on a .450 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Chiaka Ogbogu added nine kills, hitting .474, while also adding three aces, four digs and six blocks.
Texas wasted no time exerting its influence on the proceedings during the opening set, racing to a 5-1 lead on the strength of kills from Ogbogu, senior Khat Bell and McCage. Northwestern State wouldn't be intimidated by the sixth-ranked Longhorns, however, as a pair of UT miscues and consecutive Mackenzie Neely service aces drew the Lady Demons back even at 5-5.
The back-and-forth contest continued as neither squad could escape more than one point in front. That was, however, until a kill by junior middle blocker Glynna Johnson granted NSU a 13-11 lead. The Lady Demons remained in front (14-12) until Texas senior outside hitter Haley Eckerman unleashed back-to-back aces, granting the Longhorns a one-point lead. Three NSU errors and a McCage blast eventually raised NSU's deficit to 19-15.
The Lady Demons managed to claw back within three on a trio of occasions, the last facing set point at 24-21. That was as close as they would get, however, as an attack error from senior outside hitter Stacey DiFrancesco finished off the Burnt Orange & White's 25-21 victory. McCage and sophomore outside hitter Paulina Prieto Cerame guided the Texas offense with three kills each during the opening set.
Tied at two-all early in the second set, Texas got back-to-back kills from Eckerman and McCage to take early command, 6-3. Northwestern State again showed its mettle by going on a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from senior middle blocker Vanessa Coleman and Neely, that handed the Lady Demons their initial lead of the set at 8-7. Texas re-took control soon after as successful blasts from Eckerman, McCage and sophomore outside hitter Paulina Prieto Cerame as well as consecutive service aces by Ogbogu made it 15-10 Horns and forced an NSU timeout. Texas' lead soon grew to seven at 18-11, following another McCage kill, and at 21-14 on a Northwestern State error. The Horns then utilized a 4-1 spurt, completing its 25-15 triumph on a kill by Ogbogu that sent the teams to the 10-minute break with UT in front 2-0.
The Longhorns got off to another quick start in the third set as Ogbogu, McCage, Eckerman and Prieto Cerame kills led to a quick 6-1 lead. Once again, Northwestern State refused to fold under pressure, stringing together a 4-0 run that was highlighted by kills from both Johnson and Neely. Texas expanded its advantage to three at 12-9 as Prieto Cerame contributed her sixth kill of the night. Unfortunately for the Horns, NSU continued its theme of rallying from deficits as a Neely kill and two UT errors dead-locked the scoreboard for the first time since the 1-1 mark at 13-all. Another Eckerman ace, a Neal blast and consecutive attack errors helped Texas to a 20-15 advantage, equaling its largest lead to that point in the set and forcing an NSU timeout. The break seemed to briefly help the Lady Demons as redshirt junior outside hitter Caiti O'Connell's successful blast drew Northwestern State back within three at 20-17. That was as close as things would get the rest of the way as a 5-1 Longhorn run, finished off on a combined block from Ogbogu and Prieto Cerame, secured the UT sweep, 25-18.
No. 6 Texas will return to action on Friday night at 8 p.m. CT in NCAA Second Round action versus Arizona State at Gregory Gym. The match is also slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network.