Volleyball On SI

Texas Volleyball Scores Top-10 Win at Moody Center to Even Record

Texas volleyball manages to claim a four-set victory over the No. 6 team in the country. As the nonconference season comes to a close, the Longhorns will need to be more consistent in all areas of the court to survive the SEC schedule.

Paige Durrenberger

Florida outside hitter Jordyn Byrd (14) hits past Texas middle blocker Nya Bunton (55) and outside hitter Cari Spears (23) during an NCAA women’s volleyball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec arena in Gainesville, FL on Friday, November 7, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Florida outside hitter Jordyn Byrd (14) hits past Texas middle blocker Nya Bunton (55) and outside hitter Cari Spears (23) during an NCAA women’s volleyball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec arena in Gainesville, FL on Friday, November 7, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Students didn't immediately flood the Moody Center when the doors opened for the sold-out Texas volleyball game against No. 6 Wisconsin.

With the match scheduled for 2 p.m. the day after the incredible win that Texas football managed to pull off against Ohio State, it's likely quite a few students were battling a combination of exhaustion and a brutal hangover.

However, by the time the pregame burnt orange lights gleamed to announce the game's starters, the Moody Center was packed to the brim.

Hordes of fans in burnt orange T-shirts watched Texas win in four sets to even its record at 4-4 in the last nonconference game of the season.

It was a battle, with the Longhorns having to fight for every point in the physical game, and while Wisconsin got the first laugh, Texas walked away with the victory, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-16.

"Our passers did an incredible job, and we were the most organized and dialed in that we've been all season long," head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "It's very easy to start doubting and... start looking over your shoulder, (but) they stuck together."

The Longhorns held a healthy lead in the fourth set; at one time, they had 7 points separating them from the Badgers, 15-8. But that lead wasn't what made the crowd erupt. It was sophomore outside hitter Cari Spears.

After Wisconsin closed the gap to 16-10, Spears stood behind the service line with confidence. And after putting the ball in play, it was clear why: the Badgers didn't stand a chance against the sophomore's ball. Granted, an ace is just one point, but to the Longhorns, it signaled the momentum they had to close this match out.

Despite the victory, Texas is still trying to find an answer for its missing outside hitter, Abby Vander Wal, who went down with an ACL tear earlier this season. Freshman outside hitter Henley Anderson has assumed that role, but has battled inconsistencies at the net.

Anderson, who played all four sets, recorded a dismal .000 hitting percentage with just seven kills. To compare, Spears hit 18 kills and senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford hit 16.

Service errors still plague Anderson. This afternoon, she gifted Wisconsin three free points with her inconsistent serve while scoring no aces.

However, this is an improvement from last week's game. Against SMU, she hit five service errors and just one ace in the five-set loss.

One thing about Texas fans is that they love themselves some Ella Swindle. The senior setter didn't start, a choice that Elliott has stuck by this whole season, but when Swindle took the court in the rotation, Moody Center erupted.

She didn't have herself a game. Swindle hit -.500 and only managed six assists, but as she ran back to the bench in the fourth set, a smile was plastered on her face. This team seems to be the place where Swindle wants to be.

"Ella (Swindle) brings us a really good block in the front row, and she gets us a really good ball up," Spears said.

While Texas has won games on the road, one against Marquette in five sets and one against TCU in three, it seems like when the Longhorns have the crowd behind them, their skills on the court drastically improve.

So when Texas hears chants of "We are Texas" behind every hit on the Forty Acres, it's not just cheering to contribute to the environment; it's actually something that makes the Longhorns' game stronger.

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Paige Durrenberger
PAIGE DURRENBERGER

Paige Durrenberger is a sports writer and Economics student at the University of Texas at Austin. She has covered golf, softball, and the Texas Stars for The Daily Texan and is also a contributing writer for 5Wins. Raised in Dallas, Texas, when Durrenberger isn’t covering sports, she’s either out running with her dog Bailey or cheering on whichever Dallas team is in season.

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