Slightly off-subject, but what are you hearing about Kelsey Bone matriculating to Texas? Just saw her featured in ESPN Mag, with a picture taken in the halls of my old high school, no less! I’d love to see her wreck shop on the 40 Acres.

The former King of the Beach is providing color commentary for the Gazelles’ matchup with Stanford this afternoon on ESPNU.

"Texas is an absolutely phenomenal sports university," Kiraly said. "And, with the way their volleyball program produces in terms of coaching and recruiting, it’s good to see them here this week."

Another huge matchup against a Pac 10 school that has been the bane of Texas in the post-season of late. Stanford beat Texas 3-2 in our second match of the season – also in Omaha – and are the 2 seed in the tournament. They are almost identical to Texas in terms of athleticism and system and are led by Foluke Akinradewo, Cynthia Barboza and former Texas recruit Alix Klineman.

The wild card for the match today is Destinee Hooker. For some reason Destinee always goes off during nationally televised matches. If we get a double-double from the Hammer of God I think we have a good chance of pulling off what would be considered a mild upset.

Whatever happens, this has been a huge step forward for the program. As Jerritt noted in his press conference:

"First of all when I came to the program in 2001, this was one of the goals; to get Texas back and return the pride to Texas volleyball. It’s been a long process. We’ve been knocking of the door the last two years and haven’t been able to make that step. This year was the first time we have been able to do that. I’m very proud about the type of players we have recruited and the type of quality of people that we have and most importantly about the foundation that we have laid. This isn’t the type of team that is going to just go away after one year. We’ve built this the right way, in terms of trying to return here every year for a national championship … The season isn’t just a success based on getting to the final four, we have the talent to compete here and to walk on the floor and win."

Final Four Press Conference

Stanford Press Conference

The Cardinal barely even mention Texas. I hope they’re looking past us towards a rematch with Penn State in the championship game. The Gazelles will make them pay if the are.

At the Forty Acres, sports are ascendant. The University of Texas football team ended the season ranked third in the country and is headed to a Fiesta Bowl game with Ohio State.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are burning up the hardwood, and both are ranked fifth in the polls. The men are 9-1, and the women are off to their best start in decades.

Somewhat lost in all that burnt orange glory is a volleyball team that is playing in the Division I Final Four this weekend. The third-ranked Longhorns, riding a 14-match winning streak, have reached the national semifinals for the first time since 1995.

Editorial

The Cardinal is led by middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo and outside hitter Cynthia Barboza, who both had big games in the Elite Eight victory over Texas in 2006. Akinradewo was held in check in the first match against the Longhorns this year, but that gave opportunities to Barboza (18 kills) and Alix Klineman (21 kills). On the other side of the net, Destinee Hooker had one of her best matches of the season with 24 kills. In three matches against teams in the Final Four — Stanford and two matches against Nebraska — she averaged 19.7 kills.

Game Preview

The Lions have won 109 consecutive sets, breaking the 105-set streak by Florida in 2003. Penn State’s average winning margin is a commanding 25-16. Penn State also has won 62 consecutive matches, another NCAA record.

Final Four Preview

They are playing Nebraska in the Huskers’ back yard though, so expect them to face their stiffest challenge yet. I’ll predict they lose their first set this season but still prevail 3-1 to advance to the final.