**The match will be broadcast live on the Longhorn Network.
AUSTIN, Texas (November 11, 2014) – The West Virginia University volleyball team will look to avenge its preview 3-2 loss to No. 5 Texas on Wednesday when the Mountaineers travel to face the Longhorns at Gregory Gym in Austin.
The Mountaineers (13-12, 3-8) will face the Longhorns (18-1, 10-1) for the sixth time in program history in a series that began when West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012. Texas, which has been nationally ranked in every meeting, owns a 5-0 series lead. Prior to 2014, the Mountaineers had never won a set against the Longhorns.
“As the season progresses your team is always changing. At this point in the season it’s different than the last time we played them. We’ve gone through some growth. There’s been a lot of things develop in our office and we’re getting better at certain spots defensively,” said WVU coach Jill Kramer. “I think right now it’s about consistency for us – we need to get everybody going on the same day. We’ve had some real breakout performances from each and every player and it’s time for it to come together now.”
Hosting then-No. 2 Texas on ESPNU in a September 24 match at the WVU Coliseum, the Mountaineers went up two sets to none to start the match. However, the Longhorns rallied after the break to take the final three and earn the 3-2 win. Not only did it mark the first time in school history WVU had won a set against Texas, but the Mountaineers became just the third team all season to take a set from the Longhorns. Nikki Attea set a career best with 20 kills and 14 digs in the contest – a mark which she has since surpassed. Gianna Gotterba recorded a personal-best 19 digs while Lamprini Konstantinidou dished out a career-best 54 assists.
Konstantinidou and Gotterba had posted stellar freshman campaigns thus far, with both etching their names in WVU’s freshman record books. Konstantinidou has 826 assists through 25 matches, ranking fourth all-time among freshmen in program history. She needs just 13 more to take over third place. Gotterba’s 268 digs place her sixth amongst freshman in that category. She needs five more to tie current junior Brittany Sample for fifth place.
Wednesday marks the sixth occasion in which the Mountaineers have faced a ranked foe this season. West Virginia opened the season with a 3-0 loss to then-No. 9 BYU before traveling to the Tar Heel State to take on No. 13 North Carolina, dropping a 3-0 match in Chapel Hill. In conference play, Mountaineers have twice taken ranked teams to five sets. In addition to their 3-2 loss to No. 2 Texas in September, the squad dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to then-No. 22 Kansas State in late October. WVU also dropped a 3-0 match to then-No. 25 Oklahoma on November 1.
Texas native Jordan Anderson continues to lead both the Mountaineers and the Big 12 offensively. Anderson is averaging 4.66 kills per set through 25 matches. She has also averaged a league-best 5.12 points per set in her sophomore season. Anderson currently ranks 10th nationally in kills per set and 28th overall in total kills. She ranks 17th in points per set.
West Virginia will return home to host Texas Tech at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers will celebrate Military Appreciation Day against the Red Raiders in their 4 p.m. tilt.
