Texas goal is to make tourney’s Final Four

Volleyball

this rivalry away from us,” said A&M coach Laurie Corbelli, a close friend of Elliott’s. “That’s too bad.”

The Longhorns, who also will play host to the regional round, will meet the winner of Saturday’s match between 14thseeded Florida, the winners of the SEC, and the College of Charleston.

Texas’ immediate goal is to return to the Final Four. The Longhorns (25-4) lost in the regional finals a year ago after earning a Final Four spot for three straight seasons.

A&M, which missed out on hosting two rounds of the NCAAs, practiced against a men’s club team to prepare for the power of the Longhorns, specificially outside hitters Bailey Webster and Haley Eckerman. Webster, a junior, was an All-American and Big 12 player of the year in 2011. Eckerman, a sophomore, was this year’s Big 12 player of the year.

The Aggies, although winning the second set thanks to some terrific serving, were no match for the Longhorns’ outside duo. They finished the year at 25-6 — Friday’s loss broke a 10-match winning streak.

Eckerman and Bailey each had 17 kills. Bailey’s hitting percentage was .556, meaning that more than half the time, one of her leaping kills would slam down for a Texas point. She also scored twice with blocks. Eckerman wasn’t as efficient as Webster, with a hitting percentage of .342. But she managed 18 points.

“I think we did a good job of telling each other what was open,” Eckerman said.

Sophomore middle blocker Khat Bell also registered double-digit kills with 11 on 19 swings.

A&M did put pressure on Texas in the second set. The Aggies notched five aces, three of them coming early to give them a quick, 6-1 lead.

“We got a little anxious,” Elliott said. “I don’t know if we panicked, but we got a little anxious. … I think we’ve proven all season we’re a team that settles down and finishes.”

The rivaly renewal, however brief, might have prompted the nerves for Texas and propelled the Aggies to play a bit over their heads.

Then again, knowing that the winner would be allowed to extend their season by at least a week was enough of a carrot.

“I think it had more of an NCAA feel to it,” said A&M’s Tori Mellinger. “The crowd was crazy.”