The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Rice
No. 2 Volleyball preview: Rice
03.22.2021 | Volleyball
Texas closes out the home schedule with a matchup against Rice on Tuesday afternoon.
#2 Texas Volleyball vs. Rice
Texas: 20-0 | Rice: 13-4
Tuesday, Mar. 23 – 4 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 10th-consecutive week, collecting six first-place votes. The poll debuted on Jan. 5 with Texas at No. 2, and with a 20-0 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 Rice Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Rice 36-1, including an 18-0 advantage at home. The Longhorns and Owls last faced off in September 2019, with Texas falling in Houston, 3-2; 25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 14-25, 15-13. Micaya White and Logan Eggleston each collected 16 kills, with White adding 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Eggleston added five digs and three blocks on the evening. Asjia O'Neal recorde nine kills, leading the team by hitting .500, and registered four blocks, while Skylar Fields, put down 12 kills and added four blocks. Sydney Petersen scooped up a career-best 25 digs, while Jhenna Gabriel tallied 50 assists and added eight digs.
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 .429, while O'Neal is at a .413 clip and Phillips is hitting .362. Logan Eggleston is at a clip of .326 and Skylar Fields is hitting at .318. All five of those players rank in the top ten in hitting in the Big 12.
Sharing the Wealth
With five 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 15th nationally with 11.22 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 fifth in the nation in total blocks and second in the Big 12 Conference with a combined 189.5. Brionne Butler leads Texas and is ranked fifth in the nation with 96 total blocks, while Asjia O'Neal (78 blocks) is ranked 17th nationally. Butler and O'Neal rank third and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. Butler currently leads the Big 12 conference and is 13th nationally averaging 1.45 blocks per set and O'Neal is fifth in the conference with a 1.15 blocks per set average.
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 has resumed 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.
