The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 2 Volleyball preview: No. 6 Baylor
03.02.2021 | Volleyball
Texas hosts Baylor in a non-conference matchup at the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday.
#2 Texas Volleyball vs. #6 Baylor
Texas: 16-0 | BU: 15-3
Wednesday, Mar. 3 – 7 p.m. CT
Frank Erwin Center | Austin, Texas
Texas in the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 2 in the 2021 AVCA Top-25 poll for the seventh-consecutive week. The poll debuted on Jan. 5 with Texas at No. 2, and with a 16-0 record the Longhorns have remained in that spot. Texas currently leads the Big 12 and is ranked fourth in the nation with a .335 hitting percentage. The Longhorns spent the entirety of the fall ranked in the top spot of the AVCA poll.
The Baylor Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Baylor 86-3, and holds a 46-0 advantage all-time at home. In November, Texas swept Baylor in a pair of five-set thrillers at the Frank Erwin Center. In the last meeting, Brionne Butler dominated in the middle, collecting 11 kills and 11 blocks for her first double-double of the season. That performance followed a 10 kill, six block performance the previous night. Logan Eggleston recorded a double-double in each match, with a 22 kill, 15 dig performance in the first contest, followed by a 14 kill, 10 dig outing in the second.
Coach Jerritt Elliott on the 2021 Spring schedule:
"We were looking for 10 matches and a strong schedule as we head toward postseason. We had scheduled UTSA, but with the weather and their conference schedule they had to cancel, but fortunately Oklahoma was willing to come down to our place on short notice last weekend and is a much better team than they were in the Fall. Baylor was looking for strong matches and is one of the toughest teams in the nation, and Texas State won their conference and is a tournament team, so we feel like we've built a solid schedule under the circumstances."
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. So far this season, Texas is fourth in the nation at a clip of .335. The trio of Brionne Butler, Asjia O'Neal and Molly Phillips are the top three hitters in the Big 12. Butler is hitting .418, while O'Neal is at a .405 clip and Phillips is hitting .368. Logan Eggleston is at a clip of .326. All four of those players rank in the top 10 in hitting in the Big 12.
Sharing the Wealth
With four attackers hitting at a very high level, the Longhorns have managed to create a balanced offensive attack. Setter Jhenna Gabriel has been a big part of that and leads the Big 12 and ranks 21st nationally with 11.23 assists per set. Twice this season she has set a career high with 58 assists in a match. Gabriel's 58 assists at Oklahoma on Sept. 25 are third-most in a four-set match this season.
Block Party
The Longhorns rank eighth in the nation in total blocks and second in the Big 12 Conference. Brionne Butler leads Texas and is ranked seventh in the nation with 77 total blocks, with Asjia O'Neal (66 blocks) and Molly Phillips (50 blocks) also ranked in the top-50 nationally at 16th and 45th, respectively.
2020 Fall Season Highlights
With 14-0 record in league play during the Fall season, Texas won the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fourth straight season and the 13th overall. Texas swept 10 of the 14 matches, dropping only seven sets during the season with three matches going to five sets.
Texas extended its Big 12 home winning streak to 51 straight matches after going 8-0 in conference play at the Frank Erwin Center in 2020.
Logan Eggleston opened the season on a tear, collecting three consecutive Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (9/29, 10/6, 10/13) honors to open the campaign, while Brionne Butler twice earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (9/29, 11/10) honors.
Jhenna Gabriel led the Big 12 Conference with 11.58 assists per set during the season, finishing second with 579 total assists in 50 sets played. Her .336 hitting percentage was the third-best in the NCAA during the fall, while Brionne Butler ranked fifth in the NCAA with 1.48 blocks per set and Logan Eggleston's 4.62 kills per set ranked seventh.
Home Matches at The Erwin Center
Following a pair of non-conference matches against Oklahoma held at Austin High School, Texas Volleyball will resume playing its home matches in 2020-21 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.
