Longhorns Clinch Big 12 Volleyball Title

With its 39th straight league win at home, the Texas Longhorns clinched the 2012 Big 12 Volleyball Championship outright Wednesday night with a sweep of Texas Tech.

UT, 21-3 overall and 14-0 in Big 12 play, earns its sixth conference title (2011, ’07-’09, 1997). With a home win over West Virginia on Saturday, the ‘Horns become the 19th volleyball squad to post an undefeated record at home in league play. Should Texas go undefeated in Big 12 action on the season, it will mark the fifth time a team has posted an unblemished mark and first since 2004. In addition to WVU, Texas will face Iowa State at home to close out the season.

The Longhorns have won 28 straight league matches and carry a 16-match win streak with three contests left in the regular season.

This season, UT is 9-4 against teams ranked in the top 25 and has not lost a match since September 14. Texas is led by 2011 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

In 2011, UT appeared in its 28th overall NCAA tournament, advancing to the regional finals before losing to eventual national champion UCLA. UT has advanced to the regional finals each year since 2006, including trips to the national semifinal match in 2010 and 2008 plus an appearance in the national championship in 2009. The Longhorns have appeared in the NCAA tournament all but one season while competing in the Big 12.

UT leads the league in hitting percentage (.307), opponent hitting percentage (.163) and blocks (3.13). Texas also ranked third in the nation with its hitting mark and blocks average.

This marks the 44th regular season crown for a Texas team in Big 12 history and the 127th overall title (regular and postseason championships).

The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Selection Announcement will be on Sunday, Nov. 25, at 3 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The Big 12 has sent at least five teams to the postseason event all but one year since 1996, including seven squads in 2011.