The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 2 Volleyball preview: at No. 6 Baylor
03.25.2021 | Volleyball
Texas looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season in a non-conference match at Baylor.
#2 Texas Volleyball at #6 Baylor
Texas: 20-1 | Texas State: 18-4
Friday, Mar. 26 – 6 p.m. CT
Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas
Texas in the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 2 in the 2021 AVCA Top-25 poll for the ninth-consecutive week, collecting six first-place votes. The poll debuted on Jan. 5 with Texas at No. 2, and with a 20-1 record the Longhorns have remained in that spot. Texas currently leads the Big 12 and is ranked fourth in the nation with a .332 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 87-3, including 3-0 this season with all three matches taking place at the Frank Erwin Center. In the last meeting on March 3, Logan Eggleston led the Longhorns collecting 23 kills and 14 digs, her fourth double-double on the year. Eggleston hit .417 in the match, while adding five services aces, two blocks and an assist. Brionne Butler had a huge evening, registering 10 kills and nine blocks. Jhenna Gabriel finished the night with her fifth double-double of the season, dishing out 42 assists and 12 digs, as well as a pair of blocks. Skylar Fields collected ten kills and three blocks and Asjia O'Neal had five blocks and four digs. Melanie Parra had six kills and three blocks.
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 .332. 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 .406 clip and Phillips is hitting .362. Logan Eggleston is hitting at a clip of .324. All four of those players rank in the top six 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 18th nationally with 11.04 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 third in the nation in total blocks and second in the Big 12 Conference with a combined 199.5. Brionne Butler leads the nation with 105 total blocks, while Asjia O'Neal (79 blocks) is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Butler currently leads the Big 12 conference and is 11th nationally averaging 1.48 blocks per set and O'Neal is seventh in the conference with a 1.08 blocks per set average.
Accolades for Eggleston & Butler
Logan Eggleston and Brionne Butler were named Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on March 10. Eggleston finished with a season-high 23 kills in Texas' four-set win over No. 6 Baylor to earn her fourth weekly award of the 2020-21 season. She also had five service aces and 14 digs. Butler continued her dominant performance this season with 10 kills and nine blocks against the Bears to win her third weekly award during the 2020-21 season.
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.
