With only two games remaining between them and a share of the Big 12 Championship, the Longhorns continue to persevere, even after suffering a rare lackluster hitting performance.
Texas continued its winning ways, extending its winning streak to 18 matches with a 30-21, 30-20, 30-25 sweep of Baylor on Saturday at the Ferrell Center. The win was also the Longhorns' 18th sweep of the season and 15th in conference play.
"This was a very good win for us to get on the road," said coach Jerritt Elliott. "Baylor has been playing very well."
Outside hitters Destinee Hooker and Juliann Faucette led the Longhorns (22-3, 17-1 Big 12) with 14 kills apiece, but the team struggled overall offensively, posting their lowest hitting percentage in a win this season with a .276 mark.
Elliott said his attackers' timing was off.
"Our timing in terms of hitting the ball at its peak and letting the ball lead to the middle was not as successful as it usually is," Elliott said. "Baylor had a lot of stuff blocks, but I thought we really fought through it well."
The best cure for a poor hitting performance is a stout defense, and the Longhorns responded, limiting the Bears (14-15, 6-12) to a .093 clip.
The second game best exemplified the theme of Saturday's match. Texas opened the fame with four consecutive attack errors before recovering with a 10-1 run to take a 12-7 lead. The Bears rallied again, pulling within one before an 8-2 Texas run put the game out of reach.
"Tonight was a match about runs, and we were able to outlast Baylor," Elliott said.
Sophomore opposite hitter Ashley Engle once again came up big in the clutch, posting three kills down the stretch to lift the Longhorns to a victory in the third game to seal the sweep.
Elliott said he's pleased with the All-American's play since returning from injury Sept. 26.
"She has gotten back into her rhythm and she is showing that she is one of the best players in the country," Elliott said. "The rate that she is improving at bodes well for the future of this program."
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