The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
3-0,0-0SEC
Rice
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Stafford's career night leads No. 2 Volleyball past Rice
09.03.2025 | Volleyball
Longhorns improve to 3-0 on the season with 3-1 victory in Houston.
HOUSTON, Texas – No. 2 Texas Volleyball improved to 3-0 on the season after defeating Rice 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-16) at the Tudor Fieldhouse behind a career-high night for Torrey Stafford on offense.
Stafford led the match with a career-high 24 kills and posted a .457 attack percentage. She also totaled 12 digs and two service aces, earning her second double-double as a Longhorn and 11th of her career. Freshman Cari Spears also matched her career high with 11 kills, while Emma Halter led the defense with a season-high 18 digs. Ramsey Gary registered 16 digs and her first ace as a Longhorn. In total, the Longhorns recorded a season-high six aces.
FIRST SET: Texas dropped its first set of the season, 25-23, after notching just 12 kills and hitting .163. Despite an early lead and six kills from Stafford, the two teams were tied eight different times, and the Owls capitalized on three service errors and recorded three blocks.
SECOND SET: Texas battled back in the second, hitting .483 with 16 kills. Seven different Horns recorded at least one kill led by Stafford and Cari Spears who each recorded four. Texas posted its biggest lead at 24-13 off a seven-point run and evened the match at one (25-14). The Owls were held to just 10 kills.
THIRD SET: Texas got off to a fast 8-0 lead and didn't let up winning the third set, 25-14. Stafford added 10 more kills to her name, helping Texas to 19 kills and a match-high .516 attack percentage, while holding Rice to a match low eight.
FOURTH SET: The Longhorns ended the match hitting .370 in the fourth off 11 team kills. The Owls were held to a .026 attack percentage after the Longhorns recorded their final two blocks of the match.
Texas improved to 40-2 all-time against the Owls. The Longhorns host No. 6 Stanford at Moody Center on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 12 p.m. CT, and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN.
