Special Season Ends in Omaha

San Diego volleyball falls 3-1 to No. 1 Texas in NCAA National Semifinal

Two-seed No. 3 San Diego volleyball on Thursday completed competition in the most successful season in program history, falling 3-1 to No. 1 Texas in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship Semifinal before a crowd of 10,000+ fans at CHI Health Center.

The Toreros took the first set 28-16, then dropped the next three by scores of 25-16, 25-18, and 25-20. Graduate outside hitter Breana Edwards led USD with 14 kills. Junior middle blocker Leyla Blackwell paced the match with seven block assists.

Thursday's defeat to the Longhorns concludes a season unlike any other for the Toreros. The 2022 campaign saw San Diego record the most wins in program history (31), the best winning percentage in program history (.939), the most consecutive wins in program history (28), the third undefeated WCC season (18-0), and the deepest postseason run in program history (reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time ever).

USD's record-setting season also culminated in a historic haul of awards. Prior to Thursday night's match, head coach Jennifer Petrie was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year for the first time ever, an accolade that came after she was named both the AVCA Pacific South and the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year. For the first time ever, San Diego had three players named All-Americans (Gabby Blossom, Grace Frohling, and Katie Lukes), including the Toreros' second-ever First Team All-American (Blossom). And in the WCC, a Torero was named the conference Player of the Year (Lukes), Setter of the Year (Blossom), and Libero of the Year (Annie Benbow).

To read more, visit Women's Volleyball. 

— USD News Center