By Steve Lansdale
OMAHA, Neb. — The No. 3 University of Texas volleyball team’s postseason run came to an abrupt end Saturday when the Longhorns were swept, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) by No. 4 Nebraska in the final of the 2015 NCAA Div. I Women’s Volleyball Chanpionship.
Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said that while he was disappointed [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]to see the Longhorns come up short, the credit for the outcome should go directly to the Cornhuskers.
“My hat goes off to Nebraska,” Elliott said. “I thought they played phenomenal. I bet (Nebraska head coach) John (Cook) would say this is probably as good as they played consistently all season long. They never cracked. Their side-out percentage was remarkable all the way through about halfway until game three a little bit. But they were relentless in the pressure of siding out and we weren’t able to get any runs going.
“But more importantly, I’m just more proud of this team. My seniors have created a culture that has never been created before in terms of the chemistry and the trust and unity. We had some injuries early on and they just stuck together and they battled and they got themselves to play in this title match. I tell them all the time, ‘I won’t be upset if you give me everything you have,’ and they gave me everything they had tonight. And it’s just sad and it hurts for me to see the tears in their eyes, and the relationships that we have come to an end in terms of the season and not getting what they ultimately desired. But reflecting on the match, immediately right now, I just felt Nebraska played well. I thought we played well for spurts and we lost the first two games by two points, and we were on the other side of the coin the other night. So, I just love my team and love my university and these players that are sitting up here.”
Junior Paulina Priety Cerame and freshman Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani led the UT offense with 11 kills apiece, and Bedard-Ghani and senior Amy Neal were named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
All-America Molly McCage was asked after the match if she could explain her emotions immediately following the disappointing end to her college career.
“Not in a short sentence, but I can tell you right now I wish I was not a senior,” McCage said. “I wish that I had more time with this team. I think that not only the volleyball part, like, besides that, just the relationships I have with these players is incredible, and the bond we had with our coaches was different than any other year that I’ve been here.
“The amount I’m going to miss them is insane. The thing I’m going to miss the most is just how much fun I had with them, and I wish we could have won a national championship. I think that we fought hard, like Jerritt said, and I really regret nothing with this group. I think that they’re incredible and the best team I’ve ever been a part of.”
McCage said that while she is disappointed to have ended her season and career with a loss, the fact that she was a part of the team with the most victories in any four-year stretch in program history and four trips to the final four is an obvious sense of pride.
“I think that it’s a testament to all the hard work that we have put in with our team, but also we have had great teammates and coaches with us this whole time,” McCage said. “Just being able to play with these girls has been absolutely amazing. There’s so many times where people doubted us and we just believed and fought as a team … and I absolutely love that about this team, and I’m so happy that I ended with this team here.”
[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]
Discover more from Horns Illustrated
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.