Have to disagree with you a bit, Run. Texas doesn't get to the Finals without Yazee moving to the middle and Collins, Cerame, et. al getting in sync, all of which helped Texas overcome its weakness in the middle. There was a huge hole at the MB position when Ogbogu became academically ineligible. What Texas faced against Stanford was the same problem they faced when BYU knocked them out of the semis 2 years ago in OKC. A very tall (and long) front row that Texas did not have an answer for. In order to beat Stanford, Texas had to play a quick offense to avoid the Stanford block and negate their height advantage (Stanford was able to run 6'6", 6'8", 6'6" across the front line). Collins had to be on her A-game again and her setting had to be on so the hitters could find the lanes and allow Texas to finish fast. Collins wasn't on top of her game, nor was Cerame (obviously).
I think Texas overachieved this year given its sometimes-glaring weaknesses (middle deficiency, serve, lack of bench depth up front, etc.). Texas had been playing its best volleyball all year, and moving Yazee to the middle (out of her natural position as OH to fill a need that no one else could fill), Cerame playing consistently well, and Collins getting into a great setting groove in which she was seeing how the blocks set up and was passing the ball to the open hitter--be it opposite, right side or middle-- really well. Texas had also minimized its service errors. All of things that helped Texas roll to the finals didn't materialize on Saturday. Stanford, who had won 15 of 16 matches (only losing 6 sets in those 15 wins), had a lot to do with that.
That said, Texas' future is extremely bright bright. They'll be back.
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Last edited: Dec 19, 2016