The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
26-4,13-2SEC
Wisconsin
28-4,17-3Big Ten
No. 3 Volleyball falls in NCAA Regional Final to No. 10 Wisconsin, 3-1
12.14.2025 | Volleyball
Cari Spears and Torrey Stafford named to Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 3 Texas Volleyball program fell to No. 10 Wisconsin in the NCAA Regional Final, 3-1 (22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 19-25), Sunday night. Sunday night's appearance marked the 18th time in 20 seasons the Longhorns reached the Regional Final.
Texas finished the season 26-4 overall with 12 wins against ranked opponents, including a starting stretch of 18-straight wins.
The Longhorns saw freshman Cari Spears record 12 kills off 28 swings to hit for .321 against the Badgers. Senior libero Emma Halter posted a team-leading 13 digs and ended her Longhorn career with 1,307 – No. 8 on the UT All-Time list.
Set one: Despite a late rally to stave off five set points, the Longhorns dropped the first set behind Mimi Colyer leading Wisconsin with six kills. Junior outside Torrey Stafford finished with three kills and two of her four solo blocks.
Set two: Wisconsin was lights out in the second hitting .400 and siding out on a 66 percent swing. The Longhorns were limited to a .267 hitting percentage despite Whitney Lauenstein's best efforts with four kills.
Set three: Texas battled back in the third to take its only set after hitting .400 with just 11 kills. Spears added three kills off six swings to lead the Horns in its efforts to tie the match.
Set four: Even though the Horns jumped out to a 4-0 run to start the set, the Horns were held to a .158 hitting percentage – its worst of the match. The Badgers jumped out to its biggest lead at 17-10 and went on to advance to the NCAA Semifinal.
Both Spears and Stafford were named to the Austin Regional All-Tournament Team.
