meone else is No. 1 in the country.UConn led by nine at the half before Texas (2-4) closed to 51-49 with 3:18 left in the third quarter on

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When youve been to the final four five straight times and eight of the past nine years, youre not going to garner much sympathy in a sport as deep as volleyball.But falling one win shy of a national championship yet again didnt settle well for Texas coach Jerritt Elliott or his Longhorns, beaten by Stanford 3-1 on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.It stinks going home with the silver, said Elliott, who has guided Texas to eight final fours in his 16 years. I walk away from this really, really devastated that we didnt win this.When youve been the best, second is tough. Texas (27-5) knows the feeling of being No. 1, having won this thing in 1988 and 2012. But instead of hoisting up the trophy a third time -- something that seemed like a real possibility two nights earlier, when Texas stunned No. 1 Nebraska 3-0 -- the Longhorns were left with talking about coming achingly close again.Junior Ebony Nwanebu and freshman Micaya White buried each other in a long embrace, while the Cardinal celebration erupted around them. Sophomore Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani immediately found Elliott.Yaazie put her arm around me and said, Were going to get you one of these next year, Coach, Elliott said. Were going to make this thing happen.It wont be easy, considering Stanford returns much of its talent. But Nwanebu could pull this team together in the same way that Stanfords Inky Ajanaku did this season.Nwanebu, who finished with 16 kills and hit .289, struggled to get out full sentences in the postmatch news conference.Its weird to think I have one more season, she said. I have one more season to win a championship. I know Caya said in the locker room that all of us need to work our butts off to get to this point next year and have a different outcome. Im going to do everything in my power to do that.Poised and powerful against the Cornhuskers, Texas looked like it might have the kind of hitters who could counter the No. 1 blocking team in the nation. Instead, the Longhorns found themselves scrambling for another plan against the Cardinal trees -- 6-foot-6 Kathryn Plummer, 6-foot-6 Audriana Fitzmorris and 6-foot-8 Merete Lutz.Texas senior Paulina Prieto Cerame, who had 12 kills against Nebraska, managed just two against Stanford, with eight errors. That forced Elliott to shift his lineup, moving Bedart-Ghani to the outside and bringing in freshman Orie Agbaji to play middle.Texas was never able to find the magic that had the Cornhuskers on the defensive almost the entire evening on Thursday.With Paulina struggling, we were against the wall, Elliott said. We made a switch, and it became more difficult, because the young middle who came in wasnt that experienced. It made us a lot more predictable.The fact that Texas likely overachieved in 2016 was little consolation on this night. The Longhorns were the NCAA runner-up a year ago and started the season at No. 2 in the AVCA poll, but they were dealt a blow to their depth in the preseason. Two-time All-American middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu was declared academically ineligible.It took an emotional toll on this team early on.This team had its challenges, Elliott said. Nicole Dalton and Paulina and Chloe [Collins] and our captains were committed to what this program is about, and thats finding a way to make it happen.Nebraska swept Texas to open the season, and Kansas secured the Big 12 title. But the Longhorns gelled in the NCAA tournament, staving off elimination when they trailed throughout the fifth set in the regional semifinals against BYU, only to survive 16-14.The way they grew and developed, I couldnt be more proud of this group and the fight they had, Elliott said. Late in October, I dont think anybody would have picked us to be in the finals.Next year, the story could have a happier ending. Texas brings in the top two recruits in the nation in 6-foot-2 outside hitter Lexi Sun and 6-foot-3 middle blocker Brionne Butler. Ashley Shook should contend for the starting setter spot as a freshman.With White, Nwanebu, Ogbogu, Bedart-Ghani and starting middle blocker Morgan Johnson returning, Texas is a good bet to return to this spot, and it might be prepared to win a pair in the final four in 2017.Were ready to take that next step, Elliott said. I think weve got the pieces to do that. Well see when we have competition and chemistry and how Ill manage that; thats going to be a big part.I have to walk away from what these seniors have meant and reflect on how proud the program is. And I know well get back here, and I know well win one in the next couple of years.Air Force 1 Dame Norge . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Air Force 1 07 Norge . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.airforce1norge.com/air-force-1-just-do-it.html . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Air Force 1 Herre Norge . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Air Force 1 Norge . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost .UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Geno Auriemma and his UConn Huskies are finding new ways to win each game.It seems that a different player steps up every game. It was Napheesa Colliers turn on Sunday.Collier scored 24 points and No. 2 UConn won its 82nd consecutive game with a 72-54 victory over No. 14 Texas in the annual Jimmy V Classic.Its really hard to pinpoint or put a label on this team, Auriemma said. They just seem to do what they need to do. Thats what it appears to me right now. We dont appear to be a team that imposes their will on the other team like weve been doing the last couple years. What do we have to do today? We figure it out and just do it.Kia Nurse added 15 points for the Huskies (7-0), who are in the midst of the second-longest winning streak in womens basketball history, trailing only their 90-game run from 2008-10.Next up is top-ranked Notre Dame.Its going to be fun the next couple days preparing, Auriemma said. Thats still one of my favorite things to do, prepare for a really good team on the road. ... Sometimes more fun than the actual game. Im looking forward to seeing how as a team, what kind of look the players have these next two days. I think theyll be pretty excited. Its the first time in a while youre going in and someone else is No. 1 in the country.UConn led by nine at the half before Texas (2-4) closed to 51-49 with 3:18 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Brooke McCarty. The Huskies then scored the next 12 points, including the final six of the period to get some breathing room. Collier capped the burst with a nifty reverse layup off a rebound that made it 63-49.Texas couldnt get within single digits the rest of the way.McCarty led the Longhorns with 15 points.The Huskies trailed 17-15 after one quarter but took command in the second behind Nurse. She scored the first seven points of the quarter to give UConn a 22-17 advantage. Texas (2-4) got within 26-24 before the Huskies closed the half on a 13-6 spurt. Collier had the final seven points of that burst as UConn led 39-30 at the half.Texas lost second-leading scorer Ariel Atkins in the first quarter when she was hit in the head inadvertently.dddddddddddd She came in averaging 13.6 points and had just four in six minutes.Were not sure yet, Texas coach Karen Aston said of the extent of the injury. That was obviously a difficult loss for us. ... So Im not sure of her status.JIMMY VThis is the sixth consecutive season that the Huskies have played in the game in honor of the former N.C. State mens coach, who died of cancer. Uconn has won all six of those games. They are 8-2 overall in the game.As a coach you obviously have so much respect for the way he handled an unbelievably difficult situation, Auriemma said. I hope we get invited to play in it every year. Wed do it every year if we could.TOUGH SCHEDULINGBoth Texas and UConn have faced top opponents this season. The difference is the Longhorns have struggled, going 0-4 against Top 25 teams. They lost to Stanford, Mississippi State, South Carolina and UConn. The Huskies have beaten Florida State, Baylor, DePaul and Texas.BIG PICTURETexas: The Longhorns didnt lose their fourth game of the season until March last year. ... McCarty moved into 10th place on the schools all-time list of 3-point shooters. She has 117.UConn: The two teams have played eight times, with the Huskies winning all the meetings, including in the last two NCAA Tournaments. ... Former NFL great Donovan McNabb was at the game. Hes the uncle of Nurse. ... This was the fourth year in a row that the Huskies have played a game at Mohegan Sun. The American Athletic Conference holds its tournament at the casino.UP NEXTTexas: After facing South Carolina and UConn back-to-back, the schedule doesnt get much easier with Tennessee waiting on Dec. 11. The Longhorns do have an exam break before then.UConn: A showdown awaits with top-ranked Notre Dame on Wednesday in South Bend, Indiana. It will be the third straight ranked opponent the Huskies have faced.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '