AUSTIN, Texas – While most things may be bigger in Texas, unfortunately for the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team, first round NCAA Tournament upsets aren't one of them. The Pioneers scrapped all match against #2 Texas, but dropped a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) decision to the Longhorns on Thursday at Gregory Gymnasium. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 19-10 
#2 Texas 25-1
 
Top Performers:
Jasmine Rogers (SHU) 12 kills, 5 digs, 2 aces
Sarah Ciszek (SHU): 19 assists, 4 digs, 2 aces
Olivia Fairchild (SHU): 6 kills, 2 aces
 
Of Note:
Texas' front line caused problems for the Pioneers all night, limiting SHU to a .125 hitting percentage, but the Pios did connect at a .310 rate in the third set. Conversely, the hosts hit .361 and a 9-0 advantage in blocks.
 
Sacred Heart had seven aces, compared to four by the Longhorns.
 
Junior outside hitter Jasmine Rogers topped all players with a match-high 12 kills while hitting .500. That equals the highest total by a Pioneer in the NCAA Tournament. 
 
In set one, Sacred Heart got an early 5-4 lead on a Jasmine Rogers' ace. Texas grabbed control of the set with a 10-2 run that pushed the lead to 20-10. SHU rattled off six-straight points, including two aces by Sarah Ciszek, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.

The Pioneers were able to hang with the Longhorns in set three, pulling within 15-14 on a Ciszek kill. A Dominique Felix winner made it 19-17, but Texas finished on a 6-2 run to close out the match. 
 
Head coach Rob Machan should have another squad in 2022 that will have a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament. He'll return the majority of his starters, including Ciszek who will try to become the first five-time NEC Setter of the Year.
 
"I like how we continued to fight and make Texas earn their points," Machan said.  "Our game plan was to attack them at the service line, make sure we attack the block and that game plan worked out pretty well for us."