if the Gazelles are a 1 seed, and UF is a 4 seed, then why the hell are they playing in Gainsville?  Shouldn't they be in Austin?  PHF pleez xpln.  Also, I hate when people nitpick unimportant stuff, so this hurts me more than it hurts you, but by "diversity" did you mean "adversity?"  

Hadn't read this yet today...

On only one court in the world would the fourth-seeded Texas volleyball team not be a comfortable favorite over No. 13 Florida. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, that court is where it will face the Gators in tonight's NCAA tournament Sweet 16 matchup.

Texas (26-3) faces Florida (29-2) in the Gainesville, Fla., regional on a court where the home team hasn't lost in 16 matches this year. A typically rowdy crowd at the O'Connell Center is expected tonight and will be a huge boost to a team recently stung by a major injury.

"We know it's going to be really loud," Longhorns outside hitter Destinee Hooker said. "There's probably going to be lots of taunting, I'm sure. We've played at Penn State and Nebraska, and I'm sure this will be a lot like those places."

Florida has padded its record against average competition but has secured its place as the region's premier program. The Gators were 10-1 against the NCAA tournament field in the regular season, but tonight's match will be their first against a top-16 seed. Complicating matters for Florida is the loss of star outside hitter Marcie Hampton, who ruptured her left Achilles' tendon in the regular-season finale at Long Beach State. Hampton is the team leader in kills per game (4.49) and is second in digs per game (3.17).

Statesman Story

App St vs Richmond (DI-AA) national semifinal

At App ST

App State had a three touchdown lead. Richmond scored right before half to cut lead to 35-21.

Richmond got the ball right back to start second half and marched the field ... App St 35-28

Then Richmond recovered a fumble ... Driving, 1st and goal on the App St 8

App St QB had 204 rushing yards and 4 TDs in 1st half and was 7-of-8 throwing with a TD. However, Richmond may score three TDs to tie it before he touched ball

Texas dominates the match on the back of double-digit kills from all five of our offensive weapons, although Juliann had what she would consider an off night, with "only" 11 kills. Ashley picked up the slack with probably her most complete performance of the season, leading the Horns with 17 kills and 10 digs.

Florida, which was playing without its top player who is out with an Achilles rupture, had just 3 players in double digits.

"It was a tall order against a team with a legitimate shot to win the national title," Florida head coach Mary Wise said. "It wasn’t a lack of effort on our part. Texas just has the ability to wear people down. There aren’t stats for heart, competitiveness or commitment, but this team, and especially our seniors, are high on each of those."

Mary just hates losing to Texas!

texassports recap

Florida Recap

Texas now moves on to meet former coach Mick Haley and USC in the Elite Eight this afternoon at 3pm. USC had a surprisingly tough time with St John's in the match prior to ours, so by all accounts Texas should be favored. USC raced out to a 2-0 lead then surrendered the next two games. USC's top players sealed the win in the fifth game, with seniors Asia Kaczor and Diane Cunningham both in double figures for the match.

In the Madison Regional, Nebraska came within 2 points of seeing their season ended by lowly Michigan State but prevailed in 5 games, 5-30, 28-30, 30-17, 30-28, 15-9. They now take on Cal in the Elite Eight after the Golden Bears swept a surprising Iowa State team 30-27, 30-27, 30-24.

In the Stanford Regional, UCLA defeated Oregon 3-1 and will likely play Stanford, which has to play Cal Poly in a match that should be starting shortly.

In the University Park Regional, Penn State absolutely demolished Michigan 30-15, 30-18, 30-18. PSU has yet to be tested in the post-season, which could be a good or bad thing for the Nittany Lions. They are unlikely to be challenged in their match against BYU, which swept Middle Tennessee State 30-28, 30-22, 34-32.

Four teams in the Elite Eight from the Pac 10. That pretty much tells you where the balance of power is in the sport.

How the teams match up:

Texas
NCAA Tournament seed – 4th
AVCA Ranking – Third
Record – 26-3
Top Hitter – Brandy Magee, MB, .429 and Lauren Paolini, MB, .414
Top Attacker (kills/game) – Destinee Hooker, OH, 4.58 and Juliann Faucette, OH, 4.54
Top Digger (digs/game) – Alyson Jennings, L, 3.67
Top Blocker (blocks/game) – Brandy Magee, MB, 1.30 and Lauren Paolini, MB, 1.25
Top Setter (assists/game) - Michelle Moriarty, S, 14.16

USC
NCAA Tournament seed – 5th
AVCA Ranking – Fifth
Record – 27-4
Top Hitter – Bethany Johansen, MB, .359
Top Attacker (kills/game) – Asia Kaczor, OH, 5.10
Top Digger (digs/game) – Alli Hillgren, L, 4.29
Top Blocker (blocks/game) – Bethany Johansen, MB, 1.06
Top Setter (assists/game) - Taylor Carico, S, 12.64

Certainly looks like "Advantage Texas" in just about every category. If the Horns can slow down Kaczor, they should win this one in four. We better hope this doesn't end up going the distance, though. USC is 8-0 in 5-game matches this season.

USC, quit ruining our seasons!

A pretty good football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming, golf (did I miss anyone?) school.