MATCH STATS
- #4 Texas def. Villanova 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-10)
- Texas moves to 2-1; Villanova drops to 3-1
- San Diego, California
- Attendance: 152
- Box Score
No. 4 Texas (AVCA 4) used 14 blocks, including 11 by senior middle blocker Chiaka Ogobogu, to power past Villanova in a 25-19, 25-12, 25-10 sweep to open its stay at USD Tournament on Friday.
The Longhorns hit at a .419 clip, with just three errors in the match, and used their blocking prowess to hold the Wildcats to a .019 effort. Texas also outdid its foe in kills (34-29), aces (3-1) and digs (40-31).
Freshman outside hitter Lexi Sun and junior outside Yaazie Bedart-Ghani put down a team-best seven kills each, while Ogobogu and sophomore outside Micaya White added six apiece. Ogobogu paced the Longhorns at the net with 11 blocks, while Sun added five and White chipped in three. Senior libero Cat McCoy led the backcourt with 10 digs.
Senior outside Allie Loitz led the way for Villanova with seven kills, while junior outside Darcy Wolf and junior middle Amanda Pedersen-Henry chipped in six apiece. Sophomore libero Regan Lough managed a team-best 10 digs.
The teams were level at 7-all in Set 1, before the Longhorns broke away with a 4-1 run, incluidng two Villanova errors and a stuff by Ogobogu. Texas held the Wildcats at bay the rest of the way as the lead teetered between four and two. A kill by Lexi Sun and a block by Ogobogu and Ashley Shook put the Longhorns up five at 22-17. Another stuff and two kills by White ended the set at 25-19.
Set 2 was fairly even through the midway point as Texas led 11-10. The Longhorns changed that in a hurry with a 7-0 run, which forced a Wildcat timeout. Ogobogu managed a kill and an ace and White chipped in two stuffs during the rally. The teams traded points out of the break, before the Longhorns headed to intermission by scoring six of the final seven points. Three Villanova miscues, including a set-ending service error, aided Texas in the final stretch.
Texas carried the momentum through the break, racing ahead 14-2 in Set 3. Four blocks and four Wildcat errors helped set up the Longhorns. Villanova cut the margin to nine at 17-8 after kills by four different players, but Texas responded with five of the next six points to make it 23-9. A Wildcat hitting error and an ace by Riley Fisbeck ended the night.
PRESS RELEASES
Courtesy: Texas Athletics
Senior Chiaka Ogbobu recorded a double-double from a career high 11 blocks and 12.5 points as No. 4 Texas defeated Villanova, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-10) to open the USD Tournament on Friday afternoon.
In addition to her 11 blocks, Ogbogu was one of three Longhorns to record a .600 hitting percentage, doing so on six kills.
Junior Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani also hit .600 on seven kills, while freshman Ashley Shook was the third player to hit .600 on her three kills.
As a team, Texas committed only three hitting errors, finishing with a .419 hitting percentage and holding the Wildcats to .019.
Freshman Lexi Sun joined Bedart-Ghani with a team-high seven kills, while Shook had 22 assists, and senior Cat McCoy led with 10 digs.
Texas outblocked Villanova 14 to one, with Ogbogu’s 11 blocks leading five Longhorns recording three or more.
Pressure from the Longhorns first began to show with a lead developing at 13-9 in the opening set. A balanced Texas attack featured Ogbogu’s four early kills on an .800 hitting percentage, fueling a 7-3 scoring run to close out the opening set, 25-19.
With the teams trading points to start the second set, Villanova had restricted Texas’ lead to one point at 11-10. But Villanova recorded two more points in the set, with a 14-2 run taking the Longhorns to a 25-12 score for the second.
Momentum continued into the third set, with Texas’ rotation pushing the Longhorns to secure the match at 25-10. Sophomore Orie Agbaji came off the bench to record a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage on three kills.
The Longhorns will play two games on Saturday to wrap up the USD Tournament, facing Georgia Tech and No. 17 San Diego, at 2 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. CT, respectively.
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