The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
23-2,13-2SEC
Texas A&M
23-4,14-1SEC
No. 3 Volleyball downs No. 6 Texas A&M, 3-1, to advance to SEC Tournament Final
11.24.2025 | Volleyball
Cari Spears surpasses 300 kills in freshman season
AUSTIN, Texas. — No. 3 Texas Volleyball (23-2, 13-2 SEC) rolled past No. 6 Texas A&M (25-18, 16-25, 27-25, 25-19) in the Semifinals of the SEC Tournament to advance to the championship match.
Freshman Cari Spears surpassed 300 kills on the season after totaling 11, seven digs, and five blocks. In 25 matches, Spears has registered 307 kills becoming the first true freshman since Logan Eggleston in 2018 to surpass 300. Eggleston recorded 312 in 28 matches and 100 sets.
Junior Torrey Stafford recorded a career-high 426 kills in a single season along with her tenth double-double of the season, notching 16 kills, 14 digs, along with four blocks. Stafford became the eighth Longhorn to reach at least 400 kills since 2013. It's the first time two Longhorns have registered 300 or more kills since 2023 with Madisen Skinner and Jenna Wenaas. There have now been 10 seasons since 2013 the Longhorns have had at least two players record 300 or more kills in a single season, including nine straight from 2015 to 2023.
The Longhorns registered a season-high 15 blocks in four sets led by Ayden Ames' career-high eight. The sophomore also added seven kills and hit .429. Sophomore Nya Bunton put up seven kills and four critical blocks during the win. Junior setter Ella Swindle notched 35 assists, along with four kills and five digs, while senior Emma Halter delivered a match-leading 11 digs and six assists.
Set One: The Longhorns offense hit .321, led by freshman Abby Vander Wal, who tallied four kills to take the early 1-0 lead. Stafford and Spears each recorded three kills, with Spears adding two blocks. Ella Swindle dished out seven assists and Ames contributed two blocks. The Aggies were limited to a .156 hitting percentage along with seven errors.
Set Two: Spears reached 300 kills in set two with three, but the Longhorns dropped the set, 16-25. Stafford tallied five kills, while Swindle recorded ten assists. Texas was limited to just 11 kills to the Aggies 17.
Set Three: The Longhorns won the tightest set of the match after both teams exchanged the lead six time and saw a tied score 18 times. Texas utilized a 3-0 run at the end of set with the Aggies leading 25-24 to take the 2-1 lead. The Longhorns defense limited the Aggies to a .176 hitting percentage. Stafford led the charge with five kills and six digs, with Swindle adding 10 assists.
Set Four: Texas sealed the win with five blocks in fourth, limiting Texas A&M to 11 kills and a .125 hitting percentage. Texas totaled 16 kills, hit for .393 with Ames putting up four of her own. Stafford registered a set-leading five digs along with three kills.
Texas will face off against the No.1 seed Kentucky in the Championship match of the SEC Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6:00 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
