The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
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Kansas
Volleyball preview: Kansas
09.30.2020 | Volleyball
Texas to open home slate at Frank Erwin Center on Thursday and Friday.
Texas Volleyball vs. Kansas
Texas: 2-0 | KU: 1-1
Thursday, Oct. 1 – 7 p.m. CT | Friday, Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. CT
Frank Erwin Center | Austin, Texas
Preseason Favorites
For the 13th time in program history and the 10th consecutive year, Texas Volleyball was voted the favorite in the Big 12 Conference. From 2011 to 2019, the Longhorns produced a league record of 136-8 (.944), including two perfect records of 16-0 (2013 & 2017).
Players of the Week
Logan Eggleston was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, while Brionne Butler earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after a pair of wins over Oklahoma to start the season. Eggleston, who earned her first career weekly honor, led the Longhorns in kills in both matches. She tops the Big 12 with 5.0 kills per set and 35 total kills while hitting .307 on 79 attacks. The junior OH also contributed four digs, two blocks and two service aces. Butler, picking up her fourth career weekly award, registered a league-leading 11 total blocks and 1.57 blocks per set in Texas' two wins. She is also first in the conference in hitting percentage at .600 while averaging 2.43 kills. The junior MB helped hold OU to a league-low .151 hitting percentage.
The Kansas Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Kansas, 44-5, and holds a 22-1 advantage all-time at home. Kansas' last win in the series came in four sets in Lawrence during the 2018 season. Last season, Texas beat Kansas 3-1 on Senior Night with Logan Eggleston posting 15 kills, four aces, two assists and a career-high 15 digs.
Balanced Offensive Attack
Five Longhorns finished with double digit kills in Friday's win over Oklahoma. 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.
Jhenna Gabriel's Career Night
In last Friday's four-set win at Oklahoma, Jhenna Gabriel dished out a career-high 58 assists. She also added nine digs, three blocks and one service ace. Gabriel's previous career high of 54 came in the NCAA Regional Semifinal against UC Santa Barbara.
Home Matches at Frank Erwin Center
Texas Volleyball will play its 2020 home matches 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.
Most Efficient Team in the Nation
As a team in 2019, Texas hit .325 on the season, leading the nation. The mark also sits tied for fourth best in Longhorn history, tying the percentage hit in 2012. Brionne Butler led the Longhorns with a clip of .439, fellow middle Asjia O'Neal followed at .365. Freshman Skylar Fields hit .337, while outsides Logan Eggleston and Micaya White hit .314 and .301, respectively.
Returning All-Americans
Logan Eggleston picked up her second career All-America honor after going from an honorable mention selection following her freshman year to a second team honoree in 2019. VolleyballMag.com named Brionne Butler and Logan Eggleston as second team All-Americans. Skylar Fields was also named to the All-Freshman Team and Asjia O'Neal picked up All-Freshman honorable mention.
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