Tip: Watch Volleyball and Tennis
Texas is and will remain a football-dominated school. Even when the football team is struggling and other sports programs are excelling, the athletic department will be judged by the players’ success on the gridiron. Despite growing interest in other sports, one can say this for nearly every intercollegiate sports program in the U.S.
However, Texas sports fans have a great opportunity to enjoy a great deal of Longhorn success in other sports.
Friday, freshman George Goldhoff improved his untarnished record to 6-0 in intercollegiate play by reaching the quarterfinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s All-American Championship.
According to Texassports.com, Goldhoff is the seventh Longhorn to reach the ITA All-American Championship quarterfinals, and the first since Jack Brasington in 1998.
Goldhoff’s path to reach the quarterfinals was far from easy. After defeating Boise State’s Andy Bettles in the first round, Goldhoff defeated the nation’s top-ranked single’s player, Mikelis Libietis of Tennessee, in the round of 32.
Entering the season as the 8th-ranked freshman, Goldhoff continues to turn heads for his tennis acumen.
If Goldhoff manages to remain undefeated through three more matches, he will become just the second Longhorn to win the tournament (Chad Clark accomplished the feat in 1993).
Goldhoff will face No. 38 Julian Lenz of Baylor Saturday for a spot in the tournament semifinals.
Elsewhere in the Longhorns' fraternity of under-appreciated athletics, Volleyball continues to excel under head coach Jerritt Elliot.
After winning the Longhorns’ first National Title in volleyball last year, the Longhorns appear focused on repeating their feat.
After pouncing Baylor (3-1) Wednesday, No. 4 Texas improved their unblemished conference record to 4-0 and overall record to 9-2.
All-American Bailey Webster led the Longhorns with 11 kills and junior Hailey Eckerman finished with her third double-double of the year.
Though the Longhorns continue to win, it’s not as if Texas, entering the season as the top-ranked team, lacked competition.
Four weeks ago, the then No.6-ranked Texas defeated No. 1-ranked Penn State and No. 2-ranked Stanford, back-to-back, at the Nike Big Four Classic. A feat nearly unheard of in intercollegiate sports. And, out of their 11 matches, the Longhorns have faced six ranked teams.
The Longhorns return to non-conference play Saturday against LSU. The game is set to tip off in Baton Rouge at 1 p.m.
