Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
Wright State volleyball coach Allie Matters had to get creative to prepare her team for Texas’ towering frontline.
Since the Raiders have no one taller than 6-foot-1 — and would be facing a national power with 6-5 and 6-6 players — she put assistant Dan O’Keefe at the net at practice and had him hit balls with a full windup while standing on a box.
Somehow, the Longhorns seemed even more imposing in person.
“They’re really big,” Matters said. “It’s one thing to watch it on TV. It’s another thing to actually be on the floor across from some of those athletes.
“We tried the best we could to get them uncomfortable. But in the end, it came down to a physicality thing, and getting past their blocks was really tough.”
The Raiders’ historic season came to a halt with a 3-0 loss in the NCAA second round to the Longhorns, the fourth overall seed who will play in the Sweet 16 for the 34th time Monday.
