After conquering previously ranked No. 9 BYU in back-to-back wins last week on home court, Texas Volleyball advanced to #8 in the AVCA rankings. #1 Wisconsin (13-0) has retained the top spot followed closely behind by undefeated #2 Nebraska – although both programs have faced only one Top Ten team this season. Conversely, Texas has played four top ten teams this season: #3 Stanford and #4 Washington State delivered two of Texas’ three losses during preconference, but the Longhorns also defeated then #5 Minnesota followed by then #9 BYU.
Thursday and Friday the Longhorns will host #17 Kansas, an opportunity to extend their Big 12 home winning streak to 71 matches. Offensive leader, Madisen Skinner (OH) has totaled 176 kills this season and the junior’s 4.19 kills per set is an improvement over her 3.66 in 2022; an average increasingly closer to former Longhorn outside hitter sensation, Logan Eggleston (4.28). The team’s offensive efficiency is 0.246, still well behind 2022’s final of 0.336; likewise, kills per set delivered by the offense this season are down 12.5 versus 14.4 in 2022. On the defensive side, middle blocker Asjia O’Neal leads the team with 56 blocks and overall, the team improving from 2.5 blocks/set in 2022 to 3.1 this season. Senior Bella Bergmark (MB), named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after BYU, has contributed to this success. Libero Emma Halter has accrued 153 digs, and freshman setter Ella Swindle and Skinner lead the team with 16 aces each. The program is earning 1.8 aces/set and 13.3 digs/set, numbers on par with their Championship season.
With only two losses, #17 Kansas is ranked third in the Big 12 but the match versus Texas will be their first Top Ten of the season. The Longhorns must continue to improve their offense, finding ways to effectively distribute and execute across hitters while maintaining a strong defense and minimizing mistakes. Next week marks midseason with Texas on the road versus #21 Houston followed by TCU. The reigning champs then return to the Forty Acres to host #18 Baylor in late October.
