The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
No. 2 Volleyball preview: Texas State and Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
03.07.2021 | Volleyball
Texas will host a pair of matches this week before heading on the road for the first time this Spring.
#2 Texas Volleyball vs. Texas State
Texas: 17-0 | Texas State: 27-4
Monday, Mar. 8 – 7 p.m. CT
Frank Erwin Center | Austin, Texas
#2 Texas Volleyball vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
Texas: 17-0 | Texas A&M - Corpus Christi: 7-3
Wednesday, Mar. 10 – 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 seventh-consecutive week, collecting six first-place votes. The poll debuted on Jan. 5 with Texas at No. 2, and with a 17-0 record the Longhorns have remained in that spot. Texas currently leads the Big 12 and is ranked fifth in the nation with a .330 hitting percentage. The Longhorns spent the entirety of the fall ranked in the top spot of the AVCA poll.
The Texas State Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Texas State 42-9. The Longhorns and Bobcats last met in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, with Texas winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-14) to advance to the 31st Sweet 16 in program history and 13th straight. Logan Eggleston led the Longhorns with 16 kills with a .609 hitting efficiency, while Micaya White and Yaaseen Bedart-Ghani collected 11 and eight kills, respectively. Sydney Peterson paced Texas with 12 digs, her 20th double-digit dig match of the season, while Jhenna Gabriel led the Longhorns with 35 assists. Morgan Johnson and Brionne Butler each had three blocks.
The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Series
Texas leads the all-time series with Texas A&M - Corpus Christi with a 3-0 mark, with all three matches taking place at Gregory Gym. Last time out, the Longhorns swept the Islanders on Sept. 7, 2017 at the American Campus Classic. Lexi Sun, Chaika Ogbogu and Micaya White each registered double-digits in block, with Sun recording 11, while Ogbogu posted a .714 hitting percentage. White and Cat McCoy collected nine digs each, while Ashley Shook dished out 35 assists. The Longhorns have yet to lose a set in the three matches.
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 fifth in the nation at a clip of .330. The trio of Brionne Butler, Asjia O'Neal and Molly Phillips are the top three hitters in the Big 12. Butler is hitting .415, while O'Neal is at a .406 clip and Phillips is hitting .369. Logan Eggleston is at a clip of .332. All four of those players rank in the top five 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 19th nationally with 11.18 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 sixth in the nation in total blocks and second in the Big 12 Conference. Brionne Butler leads Texas and is ranked third in the nation with 86 total blocks, with Asjia O'Neal (71 blocks) and Molly Phillips (53 blocks) also ranked in the top-50 nationally at 13th and 41st, respectively. Butler currently leads the Big 12 conference and is 21st nationally averaging 1.46 blocks per set, while O'Neal is third in the conference with a 1.20 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.
