For the second year in a row Texas Volleyball is the top ranked team to beat in this year’s preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll following their repeat National Championship in 2023. The Longhorns are followed in the Top Five by Nebraska (2), Wisconsin (3), Pittsburgh (4) and Stanford (5), respectively. Of these, Texas faced and defeated three of the programs on their road to victory during last year’s NCAA Division I Tournament.
The Longhorns start the season in the number one slot again but fans recall last year’s journey wasn’t without challenges during team reconstruction including a huge upset in their opening season match against Long Beach State. While Texas will be in search of filling the shoes of middle blocker Asjia O’Neal and Molly Phillips (OPP), this team returns key veterans for the 2024 squad including outside hitter Maddie Skinner, setter Ella Swindle and libero Emma Halter.
In their SEC debut, Texas is the favorite, topping the Conference’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Moreover, the Longhorns’ Skinner, Halter and Swindle landed on the Preseason All-SEC Team along with Kentucky portal transfer, Reagan Rutherford (OPP). Texas will begin season play in Milwaukee versus #3 Wisconsin on Sunday, September 1, commencing the beginning of nine matches Texas has scheduled versus preseason Top 25 teams before Conference play begins on September 27, versus Texas A&M.
