AUSTIN (KXAN) — They may have fallen one spot in the national rankings, but the No. 2 Texas Longhorns volleyball team keeps moving forward.
The Longhorns defeated Kansas State for the second time this season on Friday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas, in four sets. Texas dropped the first set 25-23, but then came back to take the next three 25-13, 25-16 and 25-21.
It was an important win for Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott, the 600th of his 24-year coaching career. He coached two seasons in Southern California before getting the Texas job, and in 22 seasons with the Longhorns, Elliott has a 550-110 record.
Texas held the Wildcats to a .152 hitting percentage while hitting .307 for the game. The Longhorns were led by Logan Eggleston and Madisen Skinner, who both had 17 kills. Eggleston also had 12 digs.
Molly Phillips had 11 kills on a .474 hitting percentage and Asjia O’Neal had 10 kills without an attacking error on 20 swings. O’Neill also had three blocks and Phillips scored four.
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Saige Ka’a’a’aina-Torres had 52 assists and 11 digs, while Zoe Fleck played great defense with 25 digs.
The Longhorns committed seven offensive errors in the first set, allowing Kansas State to keep the set close. Tied at 23-23, the Wildcats scored two straight aces to steal the first set. Obviously, the rest of the match went Texas’ way and they jumped out to a 21-10 lead in the second set to cruise to the win.
The Longhorns were the No. 1 team in the AVCA national rankings as of Aug. 29 until the Nebraska Cornhuskers took over first place in the latest poll published on 24 Oct.
Texas (17-1, 9-1 Big 12 Conference) faces TCU in Fort Worth on Wednesday at 6 p.m.