The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 1 Volleyball preview: Texas Tech
10.21.2020 | Volleyball
The Longhorns return home to host the Red Raiders on Thursday and Friday.
#1 Texas Volleyball vs. Texas Tech
Texas: 8-0 | TTU: 3-5
Thursday, Oct. 22 – 7 p.m. CT | Friday, Oct. 23 – 6 p.m. CT
Frank Erwin Center | Austin, Texas
Top-Ranked Texas
Texas is ranked No. 1 in the 2020 AVCA Top-15 poll for the fourth-consecutive week. The poll debuted on Sept. 30, with Texas at No. 1 and with an 8-0 record the Longhorns have remained in that spot. Texas currently leads the Big 12 with a .343 hitting percentage and 15.15 kills per set.
3-Peat
Logan Eggleston was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the first three weeks of the season. She became the first Texas Volleyball player to receive the Big 12's weekly award for offense or defense over three straight weeks. The junior continues to lead Texas and the Big 12 in kills with 5.04 per set. Eggelston's 12 service aces are also the most in the league. Her .350 hitting percentage this season is the best among Big 12 players with at least 100 kills. In addition to Eggleston's three awards, Brionne Butler earned the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award following the two wins over Oklahoma to open the season.
The Texas Tech Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Texas Tech, 88-9-2, and holds a 41-3 advantage all-time at home. Last season, Texas swept a pair of matches over the Red Raiders. In the last meeting in Austin, Logan Eggelston finished with 12 kills and Skyler Fields added 11 kills. The Longhorns last dropped a set against the Red Raiders in 2017.
Most Efficient Team in the Nation
As a team in 2019, Texas hit .325 on the season, to lead the nation. That mark was also tied for fourth-best in Longhorn history, matching the percentage hit in 2012. Through eight matches this season, Texas sits second in the nation at a clip of .343. Kentucky, who has only played two matches, leads the NCAA, hitting .348. Brionne Butler leads Texas and the Big 12 with a .429 hitting percentage, followed by Asjia O'Neal at .366. Logan Eggleston is hitting .350, Molly Phillips is at a clip of .336 and Skylar Fields is at .335. All five of those players rank in the top 10 in hitting in the Big 12.
Balanced Offensive Attack
In the Sept. 25 win over Oklahoma, five Longhorns finished with double digit kills. Logan Eggleston led the Longhorns for the second-straight night, totaling 18 kills while Skylar Fields finished with 16 kills and added two blocks. Brionne Butler had 12 kills and five blocks, while Molly Phillips also had 12 kills and three blocks. Asjia O'Neal finished with 11 kills and five blocks.
58 for Jhenna Gabriel
In the four-set win at Oklahoma on Sept. 25, Jhenna Gabriel dished out a career-high 58 assists. She matched that assist output in the five set win at Kansas State on Oct. 16. Gabriel's previous career high of 54 came in the NCAA Regional Semifinal against UC Santa Barbara.
Home Matches at the Erwin Center
Texas Volleyball is playing its home matches in 2020 at the Frank Erwin Center, also home to Texas Men's and Women's Basketball, to provide adequate space for social distancing for teams, fans and working event staff. Texas Volleyball has not played in the Erwin Center since 1997. The Longhorns hosted three matches that year in the arena, earning wins against No. 21 UCLA (Sept. 12), No. 14 Texas A&M (Sept. 24), and No. 9 Nebraska (Oct. 17). UT also played select home volleyball matches in the Erwin Center in 1984, 1986-90, 1996 and 1997, but have never played a full season inside the arena. In 1994, it also played host to the NCAA Volleyball Championship and Semifinal matches.
2019 Attendance Notes
Texas Volleyball set a home attendance record in 2019 with an average of 3,873 fans per match. The previous mark was 3,780 which was set in 2013 following the Longhorns' 2012 National Championship. The 3,873 is also a huge improvement from the 2018 season which saw an average of 3,313. Gregory Gym sold out on eight occasions, including multiple matches that were sold out weeks in advance. Against Texas A&M, Gregory Gym saw 4,328 fans in attendance, the eighth most in Gregory's current configuration.
