4 Things to Know About Texas Volleyball Before Its First Preseason Test

Texas volleyball takes the court against Minnesota on Monday. Here’s what to know about the Longhorns’ returners, newcomers and position battles ahead of the 2026 season.

Dec 17, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, US; The Texas Longhorns celebrate after winning a point against the Louisville Cardinals at CHI Health Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

The pieces are there for Texas volleyball. Now comes the first chance to see how they fit together.

The Longhorns host Minnesota at 1 p.m. at Gregory Gymnasium for the first of two preseason exhibitions. Admission and parking are free for both scrimmages this week, the second taking place against Rice on Friday at 6 p.m.

Texas enters the 2026 season after only reaching the NCAA quarterfinals last year, a disappointing end for a team that has become accustomed to the national championship stage.

Familiar Faces Return to the Offense

There shouldn't be much mystery surrounding who Texas will lean on offensively throughout the season.

Senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford returns after leading Texas with 516 kills last season, while sophomore outside hitter Cari Spears finished second with 358. Sophomore outside hitter Abby Vander Wal added 280 kills as a freshman, giving the Longhorns their top three attackers from 2025 back for another season.

Stafford and Spears enter the year with particularly high expectations. Both were selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year Preseason Watch List and the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Team.

Senior setter Ella Swindle is also back after recording a team-high 955 assists last season. Swindle has been a major part of Texas' offense throughout her career, while junior setter Rella Binney returns after contributing 278 assists in 2025.

With Stafford, Spears and Vander Wal all returning, Texas won't have to completely rebuild an offense that carried much of its success last season. Instead, Monday could provide an early indication of how head coach Jerritt Elliott plans to distribute opportunities among a deep group of outside hitters.

Holes to Fill

Although Texas returns most of its leading attackers, several pieces from last year's rotation are gone.

The biggest change comes in the back row following the departure of beloved libero Emma Halter. Halter led Texas with 396 digs last season and had been a fixture in the Longhorns' lineup throughout her career.

However, Texas has options to fill the shoes left by Halter.

Senior libero Ramsey Gary could become an even bigger piece of Texas' defense after finishing second among the team's defensive specialists with 207 digs last season. Senior libero Anja Kujundžić is also returning to Gregory Gym, giving Texas two options that already possess extensive playing time.

The Longhorns have also lost middle blocker Ayden Ames after she announced her transfer to Creighton last year.

Redshirt junior middle blocker Nya Bunton returns as middle blocker after recording 96 kills last season, while sophomore middle blocker Taylor Harvey could also take on an expanded role in the Longhorns' lineup.

Harvey spent part of the summer playing with the U.S. Women's U21 National Team. She helped the USA U21 National Team win gold at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup and the 2024 NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship. Experience like this allows athletes to fine-tune their craft and become more confident on the court in high-stress situations.

There is also a new, granted unusual, option in the middle. Texas sophomore track star Mackenzie Collins joined the volleyball roster this summer as a 6-foot middle blocker, becoming a rare dual-sport athlete for the Longhorns.

How much Collins factors into the rotation remains to be seen, making this week's exhibitions a perfect opportunity to see where she fits.

Three Freshmen Additions

Unlike last season, when Texas brought in several newcomers, this year's roster is built largely around returning players.

The Longhorns added three freshmen: outside hitter Henley Anderson, setter Genevieve Harris and libero and defensive specialist Emma Cugino.

Anderson may be the newcomer to watch most closely on Monday. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter arrives from nearby Dripping Springs and has already gained international experience with the U.S Women's U21 National Team.

Harris adds another option behind Swindle and Binney, while Cugino joins a back-row group attempting to replace Halter.

The Real Tests Aren't Far Away

Texas won't have much time to figure everything out after this week.

After the two scrimmages, the Longhorns will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to begin the regular season against Arizona State on Aug. 22 and Marquette on Aug. 24.

Texas will then face TCU and Nebraska before finally returning to the Forty Acres to host USC at Gregory Gym for the home opener on Sep. 2.

For now, though, Minnesota and Rice provide the first measuring stick for the Longhorns.