Texas Volleyball vs. Creighton: Replay, highlights as UT eliminated from NCAA Tournament

Texas volleyball’s two-year reign as NCAA champions ended Friday with a 3-1 loss to Creighton at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. The No. 13 Longhorns (20-7) couldn’t do enough to slow No. 6 Creighton (32-2) in the round of 16 while ending a 14-game winning streak in the NCAA Tournament.

Read a recap and highlights of the game below.

Set 4: Creighton 25, Texas 20

Creighton holds off Texas and ends the Longhorns’ two-year reign as NCAA champions. The Bluejays will advance to a regional final for the second time as Texas brings arguably the best stretch in program history to an end. Madisen Skinner finished her college career with 23 kills for Texas and Marianna Singletary added 11 kills. The dynamic attack duo of Norah Sis and Ava Martin each had 15 kills to lead Creighton.

Set 4: Creighton 20, Texas 17

Another late deficit, another Texas run? Reese Emerick quickly serves up two points and Creighton takes a timeout.

Set 4: Creighton 18, Texas 15

Texas tried everything to slow Creighton, but nothing worked. The Bluejays are hitting .344 and the Longhorns are trying to find another spark. Ella Swindle returns as setter; Jerritt Elliott hopes her size at the net can help slow Creighton.

Set 4: Creighton 15, Texas 12

Norah Sis just served four points in a row and Texas needs to get her off the serve line. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott has now used both timeouts in the set and the Longhorns are entering crunch time. I wonder who they will turn to?

Set 4: Texas 10, Creighton 10

Even Reese Emerick, the rarely used defensive specialist from Westlake, comes into play while Texas coach Jerritt Elliott pulls out all the stops. The rookie turns heads with some good serves and solid passes, but the Bluejays keep firing and tie the game in the sixth block.

Set 4: Texas 5, Creighton 2

Texas coach Jerritt Elliott chose 6-foot-2 Devin Kahahawaii as an outside attacker instead of Reagan Rutherford and responded with two kills and the first block of the game for Texas. The Longhorns jumped out to a 3-0 lead, their biggest advantage of the game.

Set 3: Creighton 25, Texas 21

Creighton has a 2-1 lead and Texas could move on to the final set of the season unless the team can slow Creighton’s attack and get off to a fast start in the fourth set. Slow starts have plagued the Horns so far in this regional semifinal. Madisen Skinner has 17 kills and Texas middles Ayden Ames and Manrianna Singletary combined for 17 kills on 29 swings, but Skinner needs some help on the pins from Reagan Rutherford (5 kills) and Jenna Wenaas (3 kills).

Set 3: Creighton 24, Texas 21

Creighton’s Kendra Wait is up to 35 assists and is currently analyzing the Texas defense. Creighton has a batting average of up to .365 and the Longhorns need to find answers. They try to stay alive in the third set with a 3-0 run that forces a timeout for Creighton.

Set 3: Creighton 20, Texas 17

A late spurt by the Bluejays and Texas requires a timeout. Remarkably, Texas has yet to receive an official block against a Creighton team that is batting .359. This is a testament to how well trained these Bluejay attackers are. They hit high off the block and get a lot of points off the block.

Set 3: Creighton 13, Texas 13

Madisen Skinner takes a rocket from her chest – and it falls over the net on her 15th kill. Marianna Singletary follows with her ninth kill. The Longhorns are doing everything they can to stay with top-ranked Creighton.

Set 3: Creighton 12, Texas 10

And another Texas rally after an early deficit. This match follows a certain pattern. The Longhorns may need some hero ball from Madisen Skinner, who already has a game-high 14 kills on 36 shots.

Set 3: Creighton 5, Texas 1

Another sloppy start from Texas, and head coach Jerritt Elliott isn’t too happy. He takes time out to talk things out. The Longhons have fallen behind in every set, which is a recipe for disaster against one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

Set 2: Creighton 25, Texas 19

The Bluejays stay cool and hold off the rally in Texas. As usual, Ava Martin and Norah Sis lead the Creighton attack with 10 and eight kills, respectively. The Longhorns have a good offense with a .274 batting average, but will have to try to slow down the Creighton attack.

Set 2: Creighton 21, Texas 19

Wait, what? Jenna Wenaas somehow manages to put a shot into the net, Averi Carlson dives and throws the ball up, and Madisen Skinner shoots the ball. It’s points like that that just might come to Creighton’s mind.

Set 2: Creighton 20, Texas 16

Creighton tries to fend off another late push from Texas. A tip from setter Kendra Wait barely makes it to the corner of the court, and I suspect the Bluejay coaches are reminding their team of the last set.

Set 2: Creighton 11, Texas 10

An early lead by Creighton, a 4-0 run by Texas. Do you feel familiar? Madisen Skinner is up to seven kills for Texas and Marianna Singletary has six. Creighton’s Ava Martin had eight kills to lead all players.

Set 2: Creighton 9, Texas 4

Creighton is an experienced team and the Jays responded. Both teams smoke in attack; Creighton is hitting .378 while Texas is at .311. Lots of firepower on this pitch.

Set 1: Texas 26, Creighton 24

Wow, Texas only took a 25-24 lead when Madison Skinner hit the ball into the goal to tie the game. Bold move by Texas coach Jerritt Elliott to incorporate Ella Swindle into the rotation as a setter due to her size at the net. Swindle – a starter last year before passing over to Averi Carlson – provides two big assists down the stretch. Texas trailed 20-15 and fended off two set points.

Set 1: Creighton 20, Texas 18

Ava Martin and Norah Sis are something of a combo for Creighton, but Averi Carlson and the Longhorns aren’t going away. A nice pass from Carlson to Reagan Rutherford for a kill forces the Bluejays to talk things out in a timeout.

Set 1: Creighton 17, Texas 13

Creighton responded with a 4-0 lead of its own behind Ava Martin, who had five kills on six shots. These two heavyweights are currently trading blows; The fact that this is a Sweet 16 matchup is a testament to the strength of this year’s field.

Set 1: Creighton 12, Texas 11

Creighton just had its first hitting error and Texas setter Averi Carson brings her center line into play. The Longhorns are on a 4-0 run capped by a big win from Reagan Rutherford. Middle Marianna Singletary had three kills to lead the Longhorns.

Set 1: Creighton 8, Texas 3

Difficult start for Texas, which has three hit errors in five swings at the beginning.

The winner of Texas vs. Creighton will likely face Penn State

The winner of Texas’ regional semifinal game against Creighton will face either No. 2 Penn State or Marquette. This game will begin either at 2:30 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes after the first semi-final.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Volleyball vs. Creighton: Replay, end-of-season highlights for UT