Can reigning National Champs Texas Volleyball find its stride as Big 12 Conference play begins?

Not since 2018 has Texas Volleyball started Big 12 Conference play with as many as three losses. Seemingly rebuilding the program following their National Championship in 2022 after losing key position players who graduated, the Longhorns were upset by unranked Long Beach State in their season opener, followed by defeats on home court from then #2 Stanford and on Friday by #11 Washington State. Their path to Tampa Bay this December isn’t impossible given the glimpses of a lethal offense witnessed in some of their most dominating sets and the opportunity to develop a strong chemistry among the new and veteran players over time. In fact, in 2018 the Longhorns persevered to win the Big 12 title and move to the tournament quarterfinals before losing to BYU after a similar three-loss preconference season start.

Starting with back-to-back matches versus Oklahoma in Norman this Friday and Saturday, the program will be tested in a conference they have dominated, but Texas’ 2023 record places them in the bottom quarter for now. Moreover, five of 13 Big 12 teams join the Longhorns in the NCAA’s Top 25 this year: #12 BYU, #18 Baylor, #20 Kansas, #22 Houston and #23 Iowa State. The Sooners are 6-3 but Texas will be their first ranked contest this season.

Over the past week, #6 Texas wasn’t the only upset among the NCAA Top Ten:

• #5 Stanford over #2 Louisville
• #14 Creighton over #9 Minnesota

Top Ten teams that pulled out a win in five-set squeakers:

• #7 Oregon over #8 Pitt
• #1 Wisconsin over #3 Florida