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. Fake NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Fake Nike NFL Jerseys . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. https://www.fakenfljerseys.com/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Fake NFL Jerseys Discount . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Fake NFL Jerseys Cheap . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. CINCINNATI -- The last time before Thursday night that Jose Fernandez pitched in Cincinnati, it was April 18, 2013, his rookie season. He lasted only four innings and allowed five runs.Miamis struggling ace again lasted only four innings and allowed five runs, including Ramon Cabreras three-run homer that was the big blow in the Marlins 5-4 loss to the Reds.From there, things got better, Fernandez said when reminded of that first Cincinnati start. I hope they get better this time, too.Billy Hamilton used aggressive baserunning to produce another run and Eugenio Suarez added an RBI double to give Cincinnati three straight wins over Miami after losing the opener of the four-game series.Dan Straily (9-6) improved to 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA over his last six starts. He opened with five shutout innings before giving up Marcell Ozunas two-run homer in the sixth. Straily allowed six hits and struck out seven.Blake Wood turned in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for his second career save in two opportunities.Fernandez (12-7) allowed five runs in a season-low four innings -- as many runs as he gave up in his four June starts -- and saw his ERA over his last four starts climb to 6.00. The Reds reached him for seven hits and a walk while sending him to a career-worst third consecutive loss. He previously had never lost more than two consecutive decisions.Obviously, (the Reds) were squaring a lot of stuff up, Miami manager Don Mattingly said. Im not quite sure. I havent seen the replay of his pitches yet, but balls kind of at the belt line or in the center of the plate are going to get hit.He also failed to adequately back up third when Hamilton tagged up from second on a fly ball to Ozuna in center field. The Reds speedster scored when Ozunas throw got through third baseman Martin Prado and bounced off the fence in front of the third base dugout.You cant give teams extra chances, catcher Jeff Mathis said. Weve got to play bbetter baseball and limit our mistakes.ddddddddddddernandez finished with six strikeouts, pushing him over 200 for the first time in his career. With 204, he is the sixth Marlin to reach 200 in a season and first since Anibal Sanchez with 202 in 2011.Cabrera gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead with his first homer of the season in the second inning.Prado capitalized on an error by pitcher Jumbo Diaz with a two-run single in the seventh.MOVING UP: Fernandezs six strikeouts on Thursday leave him with 204 on the season, the third-highest season total in Marlins history. He trails Kevin Brown (205, 1997) and record-holder Ryan Dempster (209, 2000).POWER SURGE: Ozunas home run was his 22nd of the season and third of the four-game series. He is one homer short of matching the career high he set in 2014.ON THE VERGE: Joey Votto needs one double to reach 300 in his career and four RBI to reach 700.TRAINING ROOMMarlins: RHP A.J. Ramos is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday. If he feels OK on Saturday, Mattingly expects to be able to activate him on Sunday. Ramos, 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 32 saves in 47 relief appearances this season, has been out since Aug. 6 with a fracture of the third finger of his right hand.Reds: Problems with his patella and Achilles tendons related to last years knee surgery are plaguing SS Zack Cozart, who didnt start on Thursday for the third time in the four-game series.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Tom Koehler (9-8) tries for his first win in five career starts against the Pirates when Miami opens a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. He is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in his career against the Pirates.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (1-1) is scheduled to make his first start since May 19 when the Reds open a four-game wraparound series against Los Angeles in Cincinnati. Adleman has been sidelined with a strained left oblique. ' ' '