The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Stanford
No. 2 Vollyball preview: No. 6 Stanford
09.05.2025 | Volleyball
Longhorns set to host Stanford in first-ever match at Moody Center.
No. 2 Texas Volleyball vs. No. 6 Stanford
Texas: 3-0 | Stanford 3-1
Sunday, Sept. 7 – 12 pm CT
Moody Center | Austin, Texas
TV: ESPN
THE MATCHUP
Texas and Staford meet for the 37th time in program history with Stanford leading the series 11-25. The Longhorns dropped its one meeting against the Cardinal last season, 3-0. The historic rivalry features a combined 14 National titles and 38 NCAA Final Four Appearances. Between them, the two programs have played for or won the NCAA Title in eight of the last 13 seasons with Texas winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 as well as 2012 and Stanford winning consecutive crowns in 2018 and 2019 along with 2016. The Longhorns also played for the national championship three times in 2015, 2016 and 2020. The last postseason matchup saw Texas defeat Stanford 3-1 in California on their way to its fifth NCAA title.
ON STAFFORD WATCH
Torrey Stafford, a 2024 AVCA First Team All-American at Pitt, was named to the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List. Stafford was an AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist in 2024 and was also an All-ACC First Team member. Since joining the Longhorns, Stafford has recorded two doubles (vs. Creighton & Rice) and posted a career high with 24 kills against Rice.
FRESH FACES
The roster features five freshmen and three standout transfers. The freshmen class features Callie Krueger - Texas 6A Defensive POY, Addy Gaido - AVCA Second Team HS All-American, Taylor Harvey - the No. 1 MB in the 2025 class via VBAdrenaline, Cari Spears - 2024 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and Abby Vander Wal - AVCA First Team HS All-American.
The transfers are led by Torrey Stafford (Pitt) , Ramsey Gary (Indiana) - Second Team All-Big 10 with 968 digs in two seasons, and Anja Kujundzic (VCU) - Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference.
ALL-SEC LONGHORNS
Torrey Stafford and Emma Halter were both named to the All-SEC First Team, tied for the second-most selections with LSU and Texas A&M. Kentucky led the league with four selections.
ROAD HORNS
The Longhorns have won 52 of their last 57 road matches dating back to the 2019 season. Since the 2011 season Texas has produced a 129-23 (.849) record in true road matches, with only seven of those losses coming to unranked teams.
SO FROSH
The Longhorns have seen three freshmen (Harvey, Spears, Vander Wal) break into the rotation in their debut season. Cari Spears has started all three matches for Texas on the rightside, while Abby Vander Wal (OH) and Taylor Spears (MB) have entered competition as dynamic hitters on offense. Combined, they have totaled 42% of the Texas offense and nine of the 26 blocks.
RANKED SUCCESS
UT owns a 161-62 (.722) record against ranked opponents over the last 21 seasons (2004-24) and boasts a 72-15 (.828) home mark against ranked opponents at Gregory Gymnasium (69- 15) and the Frank Erwin Center (3-0) during that span. The Longhorns finished
