FanPost

Volleyball Begins Three Game Home Stand

After picking up two 3-1 road wins last week in Waco and Lubbock, the Gazelles return to the friendly confines of Gregory Gym to begin the second longest home stand of the season.  Just four matches remain in the regular season and Texas gets three of those at home before traveling to Iowa State on Thanksgiving weekend to close out the Big 12 season.  They will then await their NCAA fate on Sunday the 28th. 

Last week the Gazelles used a couple of career performances out of Juliann Faucette (this week's Big 12 Player of the Week ) to defeat Baylor and Tech.  Amber Roberson, the other starting outside hitter, sat out both matches with presumably some sort of nagging injury.  She was replaced by Lauren Dickson the senior transfer from Virginia.  Lauren was a high school star for Westlake High School.  Hopefully, the week off will have Amber rested and ready to go as the team faces the teams planted firmly in the middle of the Big 12 pack.

Texas vs Missouri. This Wednesday at 6:30 the Gazelles face fourth place Missouri.  Since being swept by Nebraska in Lincoln on October 23rd, MU has won their last 6 matches.  The most notable win during this stretch was a 3-1 victory over #16 Iowa State in Ames.  The Tigers are arguably the second hottest team behind Texas.  This match will likely be the toughest of the remaining 3 home matches. 

Texas vs Kansas. This Friday at 6:30 the Gazelles will host sixth place Kansas.  KU has been on a rollercoaster ride of a Big 12 season.  They upset Iowa State one week after providing Texas Tech with its sole Big 12 victory.  Kansas has the record to get a NCAA bid and the Big 12 positioning (normally the top 6 teams in the Big 12 make the field); but they lack quality wins so they will be motivated to pull off the upset of Texas.

Longhorns vs Aggies. Wednesday before Thanksgiving at 6:30 pm.  Need I say more?  Actually there is more to be said as this match is also senior night for Juliann Faucette, Jen Doris and Lauren Dickson.  This match is one of the most raucous environments in college volleyball. A fair amount of aggies show up.  The crowd is loud.  The swim team normally shows up to strip an article of clothing per point, down to their speedos.  If you're in town or have family in town, bring them out to one of the best college volleyball environments in the country.  Juliann & Jen deserve a packed house as we send the team off to the regular season finale in Ames.

Texas is likely to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament and definitely hosts the regionals at Gregory Gym.  Beginning Tuesday November 16, orders are being taken for the  first and second rounds should Texas be selected to host.  The first and second rounds will be December 2nd-4th.  Don't forget regional tickets are available for purchase now and will occur December 12th-13th.

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