#9 Texas Volleyball strong in Big 12 Conference opener but have a battle versus #8 BYU this week

With Big 12 Conference play underway, #9 Texas Volleyball (7-3,2-0) must accumulate wins while perfecting their game to make a solid run to and through the tournament.  A strong start, the Longhorns secured two decisive victories over Oklahoma (6-5,0-2) in Norman over the weekend with the Sooners suffering from a high number of errors along with an ineffective offense.  Texas’ two sweeps demonstrated a much-needed offensive efficiency with 0.343 hitting percentage on the first night led by 19 kills from Madisen Skinner (OH) and 0.338 in the second match.  Achieving averages that are starting to mirror what the program accomplished in their 2022 Championship season.

The Big 12 has six teams among the NCAA top 25, and this weekend presents an important battle as #8 BYU travels to Austin in back-to-back matches Thursday and Friday.  Both teams shepherded a tough pre-conference schedule with the Cougars victorious over then #5 Pitt followed by their only season loss to then #13 Washington State.  Similarly, the Longhorns pulled the upset over then #5 Minnesota but swift defeats followed by then #2 Stanford and then #11 Washington State.  BYU (13-1, 2-0) has shown little in wavering from their nearly perfect season to notch two wins over ranked Big 12 opponents then #18 Baylor and then #20 University of Houston.

The Longhorns have earned 427 total kills this season with Skinner tallying 147. Conversely, the Cougars have totaled 602 with their lead offensive weapon, Erin Livingston, earning 185 of those.  BYU also boasts a total of 81 aces this season versus Texas’ 58.

Texas will need two critical position players freshman setter, Ella Swindle, and sophomore libero Emma Halter, to lead the team in producing solid opportunities for veterans like Skinner, Asjia O’Neal (MB), Molly Phillips (OPP) and Bella Bergman (MB) along with transfer Jenna Wanaas (OH) to maximize their offensive potential, but it will be incumbent upon all to limit errors and grind it out on the defensive side of the ball whether at the net or serve-receive.  Game specs: Thursday 8PM on FS1 and Friday 7PM on LHN.