COLLEGE STATION, TX - The Northeastern volleyball team fell to Texas 3-0 in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Championship Friday Nov. 30 in College Station, Texas.
Texas won by scores of 30-22, 30-19 and 30-22.
Senior Gianina Pellegrini led NU with nine kills while Briana Furch added seven kills. Lindsay Wagner and Kelly Cognac each had six digs apiece while 2001 America East Setter of the Year Kristin Ursillo had 23 assists.
For Texas, Mira Topic led the way with a match-high 17 kills and 10 digs. Katia Lara, Gipy Duarte and Behtany Howden all also reached double-figures in kills for the Longhorns. Abbie Schindleer had 45 assists.
The Huskies got off to a hot start, going up 5-2 in game one and prompting a Texas timeout. The Longhorns responded with a 5-1 surge to take a 7-6 lead. The opening game stayed tight and was knotted 19-19, the last of 10 ties in the game, when a Duarte kill started a decisive 11-3 run to provide a 30-22 Texas win.
The Longhorns controlled game two, jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never trailing in a 30-19 win. The Longhorns led 13-11 in game three before scoring four straight points for a 17-11 edge. The Huskies got no closer than five the rest of the way and lost 30-22. NU hit .242 in game one, but only .054 in game two and .103 in game three.
Northeastern advanced to its first ever NCAA Championship after winning the America East Championship earlier this month for the first time in school history.