https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sports/2006-12-09/427576/

Texas Bows Out of Playoffs

By Lee Nichols, December 9, 2006, 9:10pm, The Score

All evening at Gregory Gym, it seemed like Texas was hanging on to the cliff by their fingernails. In game 4, the fingers finally got tired: At the NCAA regional on the UT campus at Gregory Gym, the Stanford Cardinal ended the Longhorns' season three games to one, by scores of 30-28, 34-32, 31-33, and 30-24.

Nonetheless, the Longhorns were impressive. Outside hitter Jen Christian was a rock – it seemed like every time she went up for a kill, that ball hit the floor, and 19 times it did. Ashley Engle was right behind her with 18 kills, and Destinee Hooker had 16. Good lord, Hooker is intimidating – she hits the ball with such power. If I ever faced her and saw her jumping up and aiming at me, I'd wet my pants.

Just a few years ago, the Horns didn't even make the playoffs. Last year they got knocked out in the second round. This year they made the Elite Eight. Nice turnaround, ladies – I'm already looking forward to next season.