Tag: Volleyball

No. 9 Texas Volleyball Drops Third-Straight Five-Set Match Against Oklahoma

The No. 9 Texas Volleyball team couldn’t shake its five-set struggles, dropping its third consecutive five-set match against Oklahoma.

The No. 9 Texas Volleyball team couldn’t shake its five-set struggles, dropping its third consecutive five-set match, this time against Oklahoma on Sunday at Gregory Gymnasium.

 

The Longhorns (12-6, 7-3 Big 12) showed moments of dominance, with a season-high nine service aces, but ultimately fell short as they were held to a .187 hitting percentage. Oklahoma, meanwhile, managed a more efficient .293 hitting percentage, edging out Texas in a closely contested battle.

Madisen Skinner was once again the standout for the Longhorns, recording 17 kills and adding 11 digs for her second-straight double-double. Reagan Rutherford contributed a strong performance as well, adding 15 kills with a .344 hitting percentage.

The match opened with Texas jumping to an 8-4 lead in the first set, but Oklahoma surged back with an 8-2 run to take control, winning the set 25-21. The second set saw Texas rally with a 10-3 run to take a sizable lead before holding off the Sooners in extra points for a 27-25 victory, led by Rutherford’s six kills in the set.

Texas maintained momentum into the third set, claiming a 25-19 win with back-to-back aces from Keonilei Akana to seal the set. However, Oklahoma responded in the fourth, overcoming a 15-13 Texas lead with a 7-1 run to eventually take the set 25-17 and force a deciding fifth.

In the final set, Oklahoma took control early, building an insurmountable lead and closing out the match with a 15-9 win.

The Longhorns now look to bounce back as they hit the road for a matchup against Mississippi State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on SECN+.

Game Statistics

  • Kills: Oklahoma 66, Texas 54
  • Hitting Percentage: Oklahoma .293, Texas .187
  • Points: Oklahoma 87.5, Texas 73.0
  • Aces: Texas 9, Oklahoma 5
  • Blocks: Oklahoma 16.5, Texas 10

Game Leaders

  • Madisen Skinner: 17 kills, 2 aces, 4 blocks
  • Reagan Rutherford: 15 kills, 3 blocks
  • Keonilei Akana: Strong serving performance with clutch aces

Badger legend becomes winningest coach in Wisconsin volleyball history

Badger legend becomes winningest coach in Wisconsin volleyball history

Wisconsin legend Kelly Sheffield became the winningest coach in Badgers volleyball history on Thursday.

With the 3-0 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, Indiana, Sheffield secured win No. 306 with the program. He surpassed Pete Waite, who served as UW’s coach from 1999-2012.

Superstar outside hitter Sarah Franklin finished with 15 kills and four blocks in the victory, while senior Anna Smrek collected 10 kills and seven blocks and senior Caroline Crawford notched her 600th career block. The Badgers wound up sweeping the Hoosiers 25-23, 25-18, 25-13.

In 11 years under Sheffield’s tutelage, Wisconsin’s volleyball program has experienced unrivaled success on the court. The Muncie, Indiana, native has captained the Badgers to the 2021 NCAA Championship, five NCAA Final Fours and 11 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16-or-better tournament finishes.

Wisconsin has claimed five Big Ten titles, 42 All-America honors and produced superstars including Sarah Franklin and Dana Rettke, two former AVCA National Players of the Year.

The Badgers’ model for success certainly extends into this year. After starting the season 0-3, Wisconsin has rattled off eight wins in a row and a 14-1 mark since Sept. 2. Wisconsin currently holds the No. 8 spot in the AVCA Rankings and will look to improve its national status with a win against No. 10 Purdue on Saturday night.

Florida volleyball drops in AVCA/TARAFLEX rankings after Week 5

The Gators remain in the AVCA/TARAFLEX top-20 after splitting their matches last week.

Florida volleyball slipped three spots in the latest AVCA/TARAFLEX rankings after splitting a pair of matches in Week 5 of fall competition, dropping from No. 15 to No. 18.

The Gators beat the Oklahoma Sooners in five sets (25-21,19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) on the road Thursday to tally their 34th-consecutive Southeastern Conference opener win. However, on Sunday the Orange and Blue was defeated by the 12th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats inside the O’Connell Center (19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 28-30) to even the week’s tally.

Of their remaining 15 regular-season matches, Florida will face four opponents who are either ranked or receiving votes in the current poll, including a home matchup against seventh-ranked Texas Longhorns this Sunday.

That match is set to start at 1 p.m. in Gainesville and will be broadcast on ESPN.

AVCA/TARAFLEX Division I WVB Poll

Rank School (1st Place Votes) Points Previous
Rank		 Previous
Rank
1 Pittsburgh [61] 1,525 12-0 1
2 Nebraska 1,458 12-1 2
3 Penn State 1,382 12-1 4
4 Louisville 1,347 10-2 5
5 Stanford 1,262 9-2 3
6 Creighton 1,217 11-2 6
7 Texas 1,130 7-3 8
8 Kansas 1,061 11-1 9
9 Wisconsin 1,012 7-4 7
10 Purdue 982 10-3 10
11 Oregon 946 10-1 11
12 Minnesota 773 8-4 16
13 Kentucky 711 7-6 12
14 Baylor 602 10-3 19
15 Arizona State 557 12-2 14
16 Florida State 530 10-2 18
17 SMU 523 10-3 23
18 Florida 516 10-3 15
19 Georgia Tech 486 8-3 13
20 BYU 441 9-3 17
21 USC 340 9-3 20
22 TCU 262 9-3 22
23 Dayton 199 12-1 24
24 Auburn 175 12-1 NR
25 Washington 154 12-0 NR

Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Tennessee 98; Miami (FL) 39; Arkansas 33; Marquette 29; Utah 20; UCLA 2

Dropped Out: Tennessee 20, Miami (FL) 25

* 5 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 11 combined points

UF 2024 Week-By-Week Rankings

Week AVCA Ranking
Aug. 19 No. 11
Sept. 2 No. 10
Sept. 9 No. 13
Sept. 16 No. 16
Sept. 23 No. 15
Sept. 30 No. 18

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Florida volleyball opens SEC play with win at Oklahoma Sooners

The Gators outlasted the Sooners with a fifth-set rally on Friday night.

The 15th-ranked Florida volleyball team opened its 2024 Southeastern Conference schedule against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman and escaped with a dramatic 3-2 win on Friday night.

The Gators rallied back from a six-point deficit in the fifth set to give the home team a loss in its first-ever match as a member of the SEC. The overall scoreline from the league matchup inside McCasland Field House was 25-21, 19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13.

Offensively, a trio of Gators finished with double-digit kills, led by All-American Kennedy Martin with 18, followed by AC Fitzpatrick (17) and Isabel Martin (13). All-American setter Alexis Stucky served up 44 assists in her second full match back while Taylor Parks added five and Elli McKissock chipped in four.

Defensively, Florida amassed eight team blocks, with Jaela Auguste recording six block assists to lead the way for the seventh time this season. Stucky had four and Alec Rothe (2), K. Martin (2), Fitzpatrick (1) and Isi Martin (1) combined for six block assists.

Elli McKissock served as the backcourt captain and accounted for 13 of Florida’s 35 digs, with Emily Canaan adding eight in the five-setter spot. Behind the service line, UF dropped 12 aces behind Stucky’s season-high four; McKisscok (3), K. Martin (two), Canaan (1), Emerson Hoyle (1) and Parks (1) all recorded at least one each as well.

The Orange and Blue are now 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play this fall. The Sooners, on the other hand, are now 6-3 and 0-1 in their first year of SEC competition.

Up Next for Florida

The Gators welcome the 12th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats to Gainesville on Sunday, Sept. 29, for their SEC home opener. The conference battle is set for 1 p.m. ET inside the O’Connell Center and can be watched on ESPN and heard on 98.1FM/850AM.

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No. 20 Lady Vols defeat Alabama to open SEC play

Tennessee volleyball defeats Alabama to open SEC play.

No. 20 Tennessee (8-3, 1-0 SEC) opened Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday. The Lady Vols defeated Alabama (8-4, 0-1 SEC), 25-17, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11, at Food City Center.

Graduate student outside hitter Nina Cajic recorded 31 kills for Tennessee. She earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Cajic also recorded a .338 hitting percentage, 11 digs, four aces and one block against the Crimson Tide for her fourth double-double of the season.

Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr also recorded a double-double for the Lady Vols, totaling 48 assists, 16 digs, five kills, three blocks, one ace and a .556 hitting percentage.

Tennessee will next play Oklahoma on Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Lady Vols end nonconference play with win over Western Michigan

Lady Vols defeat Western Michigan volleyball in four sets.

No. 15 Tennessee( 7-3) defeated Western Michigan (4-7), 25-20, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19, Friday at Food City Center in its final nonconference game of the season.

Graduate student Nina Cajic totaled 16 kills, eight digs and two blocks for the Lady Vols, who posted a .370 hitting percentage in the match against the Broncos. She also totaled eight digs and two blocks.

Freshman Paityn Chapman recorded 12 kills, three blocks, three aces, two digs and one assist, while recording a .429 hitting percentage. Eryn Jones totaled 11 kills, 11 digs and four blocks.

Redshirt sophomore Caroline Kerr was the Lady Vols’ leading passer as she finished with 44 assists. She also totaled three blocks, three digs and two kills for Tennessee, which held Western Michigan to a .143 hitting percentage.

Florida falls again in AVCA/TARAFLEX rankings after Week 3

Florida split its two matches last week, causing the Gators to tumble down to No. 16 in the Week 3 rankings.

The latest AVCA/TARAFLEX rankings for women’s college volleyball were released on Monday and the Florida Gators saw their stock drop for the second straight week — this time from No. 13 to No. 16.

The Orange and Blue split a pair of matches this past week in Atlanta, Georgia, where it fell 3-0 to the then No. 15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday before bouncing back the next day against the Alabama State Jaguars. Mary Wise’s team is now 6-2 this season with three home matches slated during Week 3 of play.

Florida will welcome the No. 18 Florida State Seminoles to the O’Connell Center on Tuesday, Sept. 17, before hosting the North Texas Mean Green on Friday, Sept. 20, and the Buffalo Bulls on Sunday, Sept. 21.

AVCA/TARAFLEX Division I WVB Poll

Rank School (1st Place Votes) Points Previous
Rank
1 Pittsburgh (33) 1,495 1
2 Stanford (24) 1,476 2
3 Penn State (3) 1,390 3
4 Louisville 1,311 4
5 Nebraska (1) 1,290 5
6 Purdue 1,194 7
7 Wisconsin 1,090 8
8 Texas 1,086 6
9 Creighton 1,032 9
10 Kansas 929 11
11 Kentucky 925 10
12 Oregon 880 12
13 Georgia Tech 756 15
14 Arizona State 637 14
15 Tennessee 620 16
16 Florida 529 13
17 Minnesota 523 19
18 Florida State 412 21
19 BYU 355 17
20 Baylor 346 18
21 USC 301 23
22 SMU 287 NR
23 TCU 260 25
24 Dayton 154 24
25 Arkansas 144 22

Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Marquette 77; Washington 73; Auburn 69; Miami (FL) 66; UCLA 50; Arkansas State 22; Georgia 14; Houston 7; Hawai’i 5; San Diego 5; Wright State 2

Dropped out: Miami (FL)

* 4 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 11 combined points.

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Wofford ends Tennessee’s win streak

Wofford defeats Lady Vols in five sets.

Wofford (6-4) defeated No. 16 Tennessee (5-3), 25-18, 25-20, 25-13, 25-19, 15-12, Monday at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The loss ended the Lady Vols’ five-match win steak. Tennessee also played its third match in three days.

Nina Cajic totaled 17 kills, 19 digs and four aces for the Lady Vols, while Keondreya Granberry recorded 13 kills and two blocks.

Paityn Chapman, the two-time reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, finished the five-set match with 11 kills.

From the back row, libero Ashllyn King had 16 digs, five assists and two aces, while redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr was the Lady Vols’ leading passer. She recorded 48 assists, nine digs and one block.

No. 16 Lady Vols sweep Coastal Carolina

Tennessee defeats Coastal Carolina in straight sets to earn weekend sweep.

No. 16 Tennessee (5-2) defeated Coastal Carolina (3-6), 25-16, 25-18, 25-17,  Sunday at HTC Center in Conway South Carolina.

The Lady Vols completed a two-match weekend sweep of the Chanticleers. Tennessee defeated Coastal Carolina in four sets on Saturday. Tennessee has won five consecutive games.

In Sunday’s match, Tennessee recorded a .344 hitting percentage.

Nina Cajic led Tennessee with 17 kills, while hitting .377. She also totaled four digs, two blocks and one assist.

Keondreya Granberry recorded nine kills, one block and one dig for the Lady Vols.

Caroline Kerr was the Lady Vols’ leading passer with 33 assists. She also recorded six kills, six digs and one block. Emily Beeker posted six kills, four blocks, two blocks and one dig.

Hayden Kubik totaled 10 digs, three kills and three aces.

Angelina Alcantar/USA TODAY Network

Tennessee volleyball sets school record for aces in win at Coastal Carolina

Lady Vols set school record for aces in win at Coastal Carolina.

No. 16 Tennessee (4-2) defeated Coastal Carolina (3-5), 24-26, 25-18, 25-18, 25-18, Saturday at HTC Center in Conway, South Carolina.

Saturday’s contest marked the fourth consecutive win for the Lady Vols after opening the season with two straight losses.

Tennessee recorded a school record 15 aces in the match.

Paityn Chapman led Tennessee with 12 kills and totaled a .357 hitting percentage. Defensively, she recorded two blocks and one dig. Nina Cajic finished the match with seven kills, six digs, three aces and one assist.

Redshirt junior Emily Beeker hit .385, totaled seven kills and three blocks for the Lady Vols. Caroline Kerr, the reigning SEC Player of the Week and the league’s setter of the week, recorded 33 of Tennessee’s 43 assists. She also totaled eight digs, five kills, four aces and two blocks.