Sarah Palmer got a quick taste of what the NCAA final four was like as a freshman.
Now the Texas junior is hungry for more.
Palmer will help lead the No. 3-seeded Longhorns into the NCAA tournament beginning on Thursday against Colgate in a first-round matchup.
Texas, which lost its regular-season finale to end a 17-game winning streak, won’t have to leave its home gym until the national semifinals should it win its next four games.
It’s a similar path as two years ago, when Texas hosted a regional and advanced to the final four, where Palmer had 10 digs in a three-set loss to Penn State in the semifinals.
"I think that’s one of those feelings you never forget," said Palmer, a 2010 Hawaii Baptist graduate. "It was one of the most amazing experiences just being there — aside from playing — just watching and taking it all in."
Back then, Palmer was brought in as the heir-apparent to ex-Punahou standout Sydney Yogi at libero.
Now, Palmer is the established starter, with freshman Kat Brooks, a 2012 Buffanblu graduate, learning the ropes and waiting in the wings.
The two played club volleyball together and Palmer says she tries to be the leader for Brooks just as Yogi was for her.
"Just like Sydney took me under her wing, I just try to help Kat out in every way possible to make her a better player," Palmer said. "She’s already very good and feisty in the backcourt, though, so I feel like I don’t have to say much."
A five-set loss to Iowa State last Saturday kept Texas from going undefeated in Big 12 play for the first time since conference realignment in 1996.
The Longhorns were given the third seed in the tournament after going 9-4 against ranked teams during the regular season.
Palmer is 7-2 in the NCAA tournament — losing in a regional final to UCLA last year.
"We shouldn’t really be worried about the rankings because we’re going to practice and then play hard against whoever we play," Palmer said. "We were able to lose once before the tournament, which allowed us to refocus on what it is we can do better on the court."
Should Texas get past Colgate in the first round, a potential second-round home game against rival Texas A&M could be one of the most intriguing matches of the opening weekend of the tournament.
"These past few days we’ve really tried to promote (hosting) and getting the word out," Palmer said. "Being able to play here and have our home-crowd advantage with all of our fans, it really makes a big difference."
Palmer enters the tourney as one of three Texas players with at least 200 digs this season.
She’s surpassed the mark all three years and leads the team with 315 — averaging 3.42 per set.
Palmer’s 13 aces are fifth on the team, trailing Brooks, who has 15 as a serving specialist while seeing limited time in the back row. Brooks has 79 digs in 80 sets played.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Matches involving players at mainland colleges who graduated from local high schools:
THURSDAY Kansas State (21-8) vs. Northern Iowa (24-9), 12:30 p.m., Lincoln, Neb.
KSU: Kuulei Kabalis (Kamehameha-Hawaii ’09) 5-6, Sr., DS/L
Notes: Kabalis is a two-year starter at libero and led the team with 311 digs (3.11 per set). Her 20 aces are fifth. She had 478 digs as a junior, the ninth-best total in school history.
Colgate (17-13) vs. Texas (23-4), 3 p.m., Austin, Texas
UT: Sarah Palmer (Hawaii Baptist ’10) 5-10, Jr., L; Kat Brooks (Punahou ’12) 5-4, Fr., L.
Notes: Both Palmer and Brooks have played in every match. Palmer leads team with 315 digs (3.42 per set) and Brooks has totaled 79 digs and 15 service aces.
Fairfield (22-8) vs. Southern California (27-5), 5:30 p.m., Los Angeles FU: Carsen Mata (Moanalua ’10) 5-7, So., DS/S
Notes: Mata appeared in all 30 matches, registered 291 digs (2.77 per set) and 21 kills and tied for second on the team with 23 aces to help the Stags make the tourney for the first time since 2001.
FRIDAY
College of Charleston (26-7) vs. Miami (25-5), noon, Gainesville, Fla.
UM: Misty Ma‘a (Kamehameha ’12) 6-1, Fr., OH
Notes: Ma‘a has appeared in 11 matches this season, putting down a career-high eight kills in a win over UNLV in September. She has 13 total kills with a .278 hitting percentage.
Hofstra (21-13) vs. Florida State (27-3), 1:30 p.m., Tallahassee, Fla.
HU: Kylee Maneja (Sacred Hearts ’09) 5-8, Sr., L; Kainoa Ocasek (University ’11) 5-9, So., OH/DS Notes: Maneja is the school’s all-time digs leader with 2,038 and topped the 500 mark in a season for the third straight year. Ocasek has played in every match and is second on the team with 366 assists (2.88 per set).
Arizona State (20-13) vs. Oklahoma (21-10, 2 p.m., Provo, Utah
ASU: Shannan McCready (Punahou ’11) 5-7, So., S
Notes: McCready had 51 assists and nine digs in limited action in 21 matches after starting at setter in the second half of her freshman season.
San Diego (21-6) vs. Michigan State (23-9), 3:30 p.m, Los Angeles
USD: C’era Oliveira (Hawaii Baptist ’10) 5-5, Jr., L
Notes: Oliveira is fourth on the team with 242 digs (2.63 per set) while playing in every match. She also totaled 50 assists and five aces.
UCLA (22-7) vs. LIU-Brooklyn (25-7), 6 p.m., Los Angeles
UCLA: Rachel Inouye (Punahou ’12) 5-6, Fr., DS/L;
LIUB: Cydni Asuncion (Hawaii Baptist ’12) 5-7, Fr., OH/DS
Notes: Inouye had three digs in the only match she played in all season. Asuncion has 21 digs and five aces in limited action in 21 matches.
