LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- This time, there would be no dramatic comeback for Oregon.

The No.5-seeded Ducks fell in three sets to third-seeded Texas in the championship match of the NCAA women's volleyball tournament before a crowd of 16,448 at the KFC Yum Center.

The Longhorns (29-4) dominated the opening set and quieted the Ducks' rallies in the remaining two sets, winning 25-11, 26-24, 25-19.

In its previous two tournament matches against No.4 Nebraska and No.1 Penn State, the Ducks (30-5) dropped the first set, but orchestrated comebacks to win.

Oregon couldn't find its rhythm against the Longhorns. Texas accomplished the goals it outlined in its pre-game strategy and exploited the Ducks' weaknesses.

The loss was a bitter end to the most prolific season in program history, in which Oregon set a school record for wins and advanced to the title game for the first time.

Senior outside hitter Katherine Fischer, who had 13 kills and eight digs, said going home without the trophy is tough.

"This is definitely one of the biggest disappointments of my life," Fischer said. "I've played my entire life trying to get here, and we got here and we didn't perform. This is a great journey. I'm really proud of us and everything we've accomplished. It's just hard to take."

Oregon coach Jim Moore took the blame for a couple of miscues he said contributed to the loss. Moore, completing his eighth season at the helm, said he might have been too relaxed. He also pointed to a key decision in the game plan.

"Everyone who knows me knows I'm an emotional guy," he said. "I think the reason we fight the way we fight is because that's sort of my personality. I think I really tried to stay calm, and that may have taken us out (in the first set).

"It looks like we made the wrong decision on what defense is starting. We dug more balls in game three. I think we should have been in that defense from the beginning."

Sophomore outside hitter Liz Brenner had 13 kills and six digs. Senior libero Haley Jacob led the team with 10 digs and junior setter Lauren Plum had 41 assists.

Oregon was hampered by the mistakes that plagued them throughout the season. The Ducks committed seven service errors. They notched one block compared to 15 for Texas.

Oregon had no answers for junior outside hitter Bailey Webster, who led the Longhorns with 14 kills and hit a whopping .500 percent.

Webster set the tone early, tallying five of the Longhorns' first eight points en route to an 8-3 lead.

Oregon couldn't cut the deficit as Texas neutralized Player of the Year Alaina Bergsma, who didn't notch a kill in the first set. Bergsma finished with nine kills.

"I would say it was mostly nerves," Fischer said of the first set. "We all wanted it really, really badly and sometimes that can get in the way of your play. I think it did for us."

Oregon came out rejuvenated in the second set and tied it at 10-10. The Ducks took a 12-10 lead on kills from Plum and junior Ariana Williams. Oregon guarded a slim lead until Webster's kill tied it at 17-17.

The Ducks responded with three straight points -- a kill each and a double-block by Bergsma and Williams.

It was Webster who keyed the Texas comeback. With the Ducks leading 23-22, she blasted a kill to tie it. Texas took the lead on sophomore Haley Eckerman's ace.

Brenner's kill tied it at 24-24, but Webster responded with two kills to seal the set for the Longhorns.

In the third set, Oregon cut the deficit to 20-17 on a kill by Brenner, but would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

"It's such a good offense," Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said of Oregon. "It's so fast and it's got to be precise, but what happens with that faster offense when you play longer teams like us, it's slower to the tape. There's a higher risk of blocks."

Brenner reflected and also looked ahead.

"It's been a really fun season with this group," she said. "Speaking on behalf of the team, we're going to miss our four seniors a lot next year. I'm going to do everything I can to work with our girls to get us back to the championship."

--J.J. Hysell, special to The Oregonian