July 15Jul 15 Popular Post 30 days from our exhibition match against Utah! SCHEDULE Salty ass non-conf schedule featuring Creighton (who beat us in the Sweet 16) and Wisconsin, both in Madison, at Rice, Stanford (at Moody), Louisville (in Fort Worth, with a new coach), ASU, TCU, Baylor. In SEC play, we welcome Vanderbilt (first time program), Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, OU and South Carolina. Road trips to Georgia, Miss St, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, aggy, Florida and Auburn. Our Kentucky match has no location.... Texas will also play in the inaugural SEC Volleyball Postseason Tournament in Savannah, GA ROSTER Gone are OH Skinner, OH Wenaas, DS Akana, OPP Rutherford and MB Franklin to graduation and OH Helmers, OH Byrd, OPP Tomkinson, MB Singletary and S Carlson to the portal. Returning players: S Ella Swindle, L Emma Halter, S/DS Rella Binney, MB Ayden Ames, OH Kenna Miller, OH Whitney Lauenstein, L/DS Reese Emerick, OH/OPP Devin Kahahawai and MB Nya Bunton. Newcomers (freshman class): OH Abby Van der Wal, MB Taylor Harvey, L/DS Callie Krueger, OH/OPP Addy Gaido, OH Cari Spears Newcomers (via the portal): OH Torrey Stafford, L/DS Anja Kujundzic, L/DS Ramsey Gary COACHING STAFF Duh - Jerritt Elliot is back for season #24 Gone is mainstay Erik Sullivan (now headlining the USANT and not a popular choice). Returning is David Hunt and Reily Buechler Canter, who will be joined by Ben Josephson from Kentucky. PROJECTED LINEUP Hoo-boy, this actually super tough. Can't wait for the exhibition to see what we roll out. Only a few spots seem solidified: S: Swindle OH: Stafford OH: ? (Lauenstein, Van der Wal, Spears) MB: Ames MB: Bunton OPP: ? (Kahahawai, Lauenstein) L: Halter DS: Gary, Kujundzic
July 16Jul 16 Should be an interesting year! Our usual question mark, passing/defense, could be our greatest strength. Pin hitters will be solid if not spectacular. Season success probably boils down to 2 things: -Swindle - will she return to the form of the setter that brought us a natty 2 years ago? I'd hope with good passing this year she can shine, as she struggles most when running around the court scooping up shanks. -Will our young middle blockers show some improvement? They were strong recruits one upon a time but were meh last year even with Singletary's heavy arm. Texas has a history of developing MBs better than any other position
July 16Jul 16 Author Would also add our offense should be a little different, as both Hunt and Josephson bring some USAMNT and Canadian MNT things. I think Stafford will basically hit from all over the court Edited July 16Jul 16 by Js1
July 16Jul 16 I'm going to go out on a limb and say someone, not just sure who, will be a better hitter than "free ball" Wenaas. I also think Stafford will be better defensively than Skinner. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say Gary and Kujundzic both will be better than Akana. Maybe not at serving, but they're supposed to be good at that too. But how far this team will go will ultimately rest on Ella's shoulders.
July 16Jul 16 1 hour ago, BevoBae said: Should be an interesting year! Our usual question mark, passing/defense, could be our greatest strength. Pin hitters will be solid if not spectacular. Season success probably boils down to 2 things: -Swindle - will she return to the form of the setter that brought us a natty 2 years ago? I'd hope with good passing this year she can shine, as she struggles most when running around the court scooping up shanks. -Will our young middle blockers show some improvement? They were strong recruits one upon a time but were meh last year even with Singletary's heavy arm. Texas has a history of developing MBs better than any other position Maybe someone should stomp on Ella's foot. (kidding, or am I?).
July 16Jul 16 Author 12 minutes ago, Hard Times said: I'm going to go out on a limb and say someone, not just sure who, will be a better hitter than "free ball" Wenaas. I also think Stafford will be better defensively than Skinner. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say Gary and Kujundzic both will be better than Akana. Maybe not at serving, but they're supposed to be good at that too. But how far this team will go will ultimately rest on Ella's shoulders. We are going to have fantastic floor defense. Our block will not as good as past years, but our floor defense should make up for that.
July 16Jul 16 1 hour ago, Hard Times said: I'm going to go out on a limb and say someone, not just sure who, will be a better hitter than "free ball" Wenaas. I also think Stafford will be better defensively than Skinner. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say Gary and Kujundzic both will be better than Akana. Maybe not at serving, but they're supposed to be good at that too. But how far this team will go will ultimately rest on Ella's shoulders. Not sure what the numbers say, but just watching matches I always felt we had too many miscues by Akana. Don't mean to bash her, just making a casual observation. I'm eager to see how her replacement does.
July 16Jul 16 Author 3 hours ago, BevoBae said: -Swindle - will she return to the form of the setter that brought us a natty 2 years ago? I'd hope with good passing this year she can shine, as she struggles most when running around the court scooping up shanks. Stafford is an excellent passer, as was Devin (if she is the OPP) + our 2 new little transfers. Texas automatically becomes a better passing team without Jenna "shank city" Wenaas. Ella is going to be fully healthy and from the social media things I've seen, she seems to have taken a major leadership role as a 3rd year player. Ella, Devin and Emma will be the backbone leadership of this team. Whitney is the "mom" (IRL and on the court)
July 16Jul 16 Author 55 minutes ago, Gut Wagon said: Not sure what the numbers say, but just watching matches I always felt we had too many miscues by Akana. Don't mean to bash her, just making a casual observation. I'm eager to see how her replacement does. Was she even that elite of a server last year? I feel like her 2023 serving was tits. 2024, less so
July 18Jul 18 Author https://www.secsports.com/news/2025/07/kentucky-named-preseason-favorite-for-2025-sec-volleyball-season Kentucky picked to finish first, Texas picked 2nd. aggy 3rd. Texas was 2 points behind Kentucky, despite 3 fewer 1st place votes (9 for UK, 6 for Texas, 1 for aggy) Halter and Stafford named to the Preseason All-SEC list. Kentucky led the way with 4 selections
July 22Jul 22 Author Ames, Van der Wal and Ramsey are all on the U21 team, which plays Team Canada tonight Ames beat out preseason All-SEC MB Jaela Auguste (Florida) for the roster spot.
July 23Jul 23 Author Sounds like AVW's serve is legit and Gary's floor defense was very good in the win last night over Canada (3-0 sweep). AVW was a serving sub and Ames played sparingly, it was mostly DeLeye and Gibaldo outside and Anyanwu in the middle making the plays Gary got one mention: Anyanwu scored three early points to lead the U.S. to a quick 8-4 lead in the third set. A great defensive rally by Gary helped the lead remain at four, 12-8. After giving up the next point, the U.S. scored six consecutive points and went on to finish the match on 13-4 run. Anyanwu, DeLeye and Gibadlo all scored four points in the set. They play Puerto Rico today (4pm central) and Chile tomorrow (6pm) Hopefully AVW will get more PT in some of these other matches before the QFs on Friday
July 23Jul 23 Author U21 team beat the shit out of Puerto Rico Libero Ramsey Gary led all players with eight successful receptions and shared match-high honors with seven digs. Outside hitter Blaire Bayless led all players with 14 points on 12 kills, a block and an ace. She hit .800 with her 12 kills on 15 attacks without an error. “We came off of a good win against Canada yesterday and we wanted to come into this match with the same intensity and same fire. I think we did a great job playing well over time and finishing strong,” Bayless said. Middle blocker Lizzy Andrew registered a match-best three blocks to go with five kills for eight points. Opposite Noemie Glover (six kills and an ace) and outside Abby Vander Wal (five kills and two aces) each scored seven points. Middle blocker Ayden Ames added five points on three kills and a pair of blocks.
July 25Jul 25 Author U21 team swept pool play, heads to semifinals (gets a QF bye) Middle blockers Ayden Ames and Favor Anyanwu shared match-high honors with three blocks apiece. Ames also registered five kills and an ace, while Anyanwu added four kills. Libero Ramsey Gary finished with a team-high 10 digs.
July 31Jul 31 Get after those single match tickets now. From the FB group: Quote Stanford, Arizona State, OU, Kentucky and South Carolina are sold out. Apparently they are reserving the vast majority of the Stanford tickets for BMD. There were only a couple of sections open for public purchase, and they were not great sections at all - visitor end line and a sliver on the home sideline. As much as I would like that game to be a massive success so they do it again and bring more eyes to the program, I'm kinda hoping it flops, because that is some serious bullshit.
August 6Aug 6 I’m glad we’re not projected to make the final 4. Keeps a target off our backs for once
August 6Aug 6 On 7/31/2025 at 11:18 AM, Mittens said: Get after those single match tickets now. From the FB group: Apparently they are reserving the vast majority of the Stanford tickets for BMD. There were only a couple of sections open for public purchase, and they were not great sections at all - visitor end line and a sliver on the home sideline. As much as I would like that game to be a massive success so they do it again and bring more eyes to the program, I'm kinda hoping it flops, because that is some serious bullshit. Only TCU, Vanderbilt, and Missouri aren't sold out.
August 6Aug 6 Author Our schedule consists of teams ranked in the preseason poll: 12 Creighton (neutral) 8 Wisconsin (road) 6 Stanford (Moody) 4 Louisville (Fort Worth) 13 ASU (home) 25 TCU (home) 19 Baylor (home) 17 Missouri (home) 9 aggy (road) 7 Kentucky (home) 16 Florida (road) Rice is the only non-conf team on our schedule who isn't in the top 25 - that is the saltiest Elliot non-conf schedule maybe ever? Yes, we don't play as many matches as other teams, but we do have to play the SEC tournament, which is going to add 2-3 matches 4 ranked non-conf opponents are home matches 2 are neutral (Madison and Fort Worth) 1 is a true road match (Wisconsin) We split our 4 ranked SEC opponents home and road - at aggy/Florida and host Kentucky and Mizzou Edited August 6Aug 6 by Js1
August 7Aug 7 Author Oh and our exhibition is against a ranked opponent. Good test to see how this team has come together in a week or so
August 7Aug 7 21 hours ago, Js1 said: Checking in at #5 Interesting this poll has TX above KY. And Pitt seems a little high after we took their best player. Are they that deep? And why no practice reports? Season is only a week away. There's FB practice reports all over the place and they have over 3 weeks.
August 7Aug 7 Author 11 minutes ago, Hard Times said: Interesting this poll has TX above KY. And Pitt seems a little high after we took their best player. Are they that deep? And why no practice reports? Season is only a week away. There's FB practice reports all over the place and they have over 3 weeks. Yeah, Kentucky was picked ahead of us in the SEC, but the coaches nationally think we are better. But not by much. And yes, Pitt is still going to be very good. Do we usually get practice reports? August is all football. We get the exhibition against Utah soon
August 8Aug 8 Author 22 hours ago, Hard Times said: And Pitt seems a little high after we took their best player. Are they that deep? I think they will not end up a top 4 team at the end of the season. A lot of people think they are too high. Same with Louisville - new HC and lost 6 legit players to graduation. They lost a lot to graduation or transfers - Stafford (to Texas) - #2 in kills and #2 in digs and #4 in blocks Vazquez Gomez (graduation) - #3 in kills Rachel Fairbanks (graduation) - #1 in assist and #3 in digs Emmy Klika (graduation) - #1 in digs and #3 in assists And their schedule is hard AF A lot of the teams have question marks this year, except maybe Nebraska. But they also have a brand new coach.
August 10Aug 10 For anyone in Houston, do you walk up and buy Rice tickets day of game? Buy in advance? TIA
August 11Aug 11 Author On 8/10/2025 at 2:03 PM, Hornbeliever said: For anyone in Houston, do you walk up and buy Rice tickets day of game? Buy in advance? TIA Tudor Fieldhouse seats 5k. The last time we played at Rice, it was at 50% attendance. Would be surprised if you had issues walking up to get tickets the day of Edited August 11Aug 11 by Js1
August 12Aug 12 On 8/10/2025 at 3:03 PM, Hornbeliever said: For anyone in Houston, do you walk up and buy Rice tickets day of game? Buy in advance? TIA Day of should work.
August 12Aug 12 Author Will be interesting to see who starts Friday between Stafford, AVW, Spears on the outside Devin or Whitney on the right side
August 14Aug 14 Author 7 minutes ago, Eljefeweizen said: Will there be any video coverage of the exhibition game? LHN perhaps? I don’t think so. And I don’t think Andrea streams it anymore after TikTok stole her videos last year and put them on the internet
August 15Aug 15 On 8/12/2025 at 3:41 PM, Js1 said: Will be interesting to see who starts Friday between Stafford, AVW, Spears on the outside Devin or Whitney on the right side If AVW or Spears prove to be better players than Devin, could they not slide over to the other side? It seems to me like it makes sense to get the best players on the court even if someone is slightly out of position. I've even thought about Devin at MB.
August 15Aug 15 Author 16 hours ago, Js1 said: I don’t think so. And I don’t think Andrea streams it anymore after TikTok stole her videos last year and put them on the internet Andrea confirmed yesterday she isn't allowed to stream the match on IG Live anymore, after last year's match streams in Europe leaked onto TikTok. 2 minutes ago, Hard Times said: If AVW or Spears prove to be better players than Devin, could they not slide over to the other side? It seems to me like it makes sense to get the best players on the court even if someone is slightly out of position. I've even thought about Devin at MB. I would love if Devin would be the YBG of this roster and play basically every position at the front of the net. She's been primarily on the right her whole time at Texas, only stepping into a left side hitting role due to injuries, illness or slumps. I think the second OH and the OPP are the true question marks of this team right now and who starts today will answer a lot of questions about the first real lineup on August 29. In terms of who starts and who plays more sets at those position between AVW/Spears and Whitney/Devin. (Yes, we do still have the O&W scrimmage on the 23rd, but that usually doesn't mean as much as an exhibition against a preseason top 25 team)
August 15Aug 15 Author Swindle/Gary(ds) Stafford/Spears Bunton/Ames Halter Binney is in a boot and scooter. Not good.
August 15Aug 15 Author Sounds like the RS is still a huge ?? - Spears, Devin and Whitney were all terrible. Stafford was great, AVW was good. Ella had command of the offense and her serve was lethal. Ames is a much improved blocker. Bunton was efficient.
August 15Aug 15 If interested, SECN will present a season preview tonight at 6PM. Probably not as informative as what our own @Js1 provides.
August 15Aug 15 Author 3 hours ago, torre said: If interested, SECN will present a season preview tonight at 6PM. Probably not as informative as what our own @Js1 provides. Stafford will be 1st Team AA and in contention for SEC POY Ames is much improved In her lateral movement and reading the block. Bunton looks confident after 2 years riding the bench. But we will miss Mari’s solo stuff ability AVW will be the second pin This is Ella’s team. She’s captain. Good control of the offense with setting, still a great attacker, good server. As long as passing holds up, she will lead us to a high hitting percentage. RS is a mystery. Spears has the heaviest arm on the team but the worst aim. Whitney looks healthy. Devin should get the nod, as a Devin fanboy. Miss Molly a lot, we took her for granted some Floor defense looks stellar with Gary and Halter. Anja was a serving sub today. Gary likes to secondary set the ball as a back set of a bump set We were a little vanilla today. Not a lot of BIC or D-ball plays and basically no slides. You can tell Harvey didn’t come in early. Needs to RS and gain strength Edited August 15Aug 15 by Js1
August 18Aug 18 Author O&W scrimmage cancelled. I’m guessing bc of Rella’s injury. No one else to set the other half of the court
August 22Aug 22 Author Even though we don't start until next week, NCAA volleyball does start today! AVCA First Serve - Nebraska/Pitt, 6pm Stanford/Florida, 8pm
August 22Aug 22 Creighton also plays tomorrow, so we can scout them ahead of our season opener Friday.
August 24Aug 24 Author Penn St swept Creighton KU also defeated Vanderbilt in 5, in the Commodores’ first volleyball season in 3 decades
August 24Aug 24 PSU looked just as good as last year. Lost All American Mruzik due to graduation and replaced her with All American Kennedy Martin from Florida.
August 24Aug 24 Author 14 minutes ago, Bodhi said: PSU looked just as good as last year. Lost All American Mruzik due to graduation and replaced her with All American Kennedy Martin from Florida. And if Mary Wise had retired inside the normal portal period, we could have gone after KM. But Wise retired too late and she would have had to sit for a year at any SEC program. She only looked at Wisky and PSU
August 24Aug 24 I watched Friday night. Nebraska looked salty. Andi Jackson was unbelievable. Of course it was in Lincoln so we’ll see when they get into conference play.
August 24Aug 24 Author Jordan Byrd has 21 kills in the 5th against Pitt We may kick ourselves we let her go so easily
August 24Aug 24 Author 2 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said: Byrd carried Florida to a win today. She's going to be a problem in the SEC 23-11-60 (.200), after 17 kills yesterday Glad she found a new home and getting a ton of playing time. Doubt it will ever come out if she was given a true chance to compete against AVW/Spears for that 2nd OH spot
August 25Aug 25 Author FYI - if YouTube and Fox don’t resolve in time, anyone with YouTube TV will be affected for the matches against Wisconsin and Creighton on the B1G Network
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