The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
0-1,0-0SEC
Arizona State
1-0,0-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 17 | 17 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
| Arizona St. | 25 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 3 |
No. 2 Volleyball falls to No. 12 Arizona State in season opener
08.22.2026 | Volleyball
Texas rallied to take the third set but couldn’t overcome an early deficit in a 3-1 loss to Arizona State.
MILWAUKEE – No. 2 Texas Volleyball dropped its 2026 season opener to No. 12 Arizona State, 3-1 (25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18), on Saturday night at Fiserv Forum as part of AVCA First Serve.
Nya Bunton led the Longhorns offensively with nine kills on 16 attacks while adding a team-high eight total blocks, including one solo stop. Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears also recorded nine kills apiece. Stafford added seven digs and two blocks, while Spears finished with two blocks.
Ramsey Gary led Texas defensively with 14 digs, while Rella Binney directed the offense with 22 assists.
Texas and Arizona State traded points early, with Bunton recording the Longhorns' first three kills. Genevieve Harris added a service ace to tie the set at 4-4, and Taylor Harvey and Abby Vander Wal teamed up for a block to make it 6-6. Stafford followed with an ace to give Texas its first lead, 7-6. Bunton added another kill to tie the set at 10-10, but Arizona State used a run to take control. Texas continued to find offense from Bunton, Stafford, Harvey and Spears, but the Sun Devils took the opening set, 25-17.
Stafford opened the second set with a kill as Texas again traded points with Arizona State early. Spears and Stafford added kills before Bunton tied the set at 6-6, and Bunton then teamed with Henley Anderson for a block to bring Texas within one, 10-9. Stafford added another kill to keep the Longhorns within two at 12-10, while Harvey and Anderson contributed kills later in the frame. Bunton added a kill at 24-17, but Arizona State closed out the set, 25-17.
Texas came out strong in the third set, scoring the first four points behind kills from Vander Wal and a pair of blocks involving Bunton, Vander Wal and Anderson. Bunton added a solo block before Stafford and Harvey recorded kills to help Texas maintain its advantage. The Longhorns continued to control the net, with Anderson and Bunton combining for another block before Stafford and Spears added kills to extend the lead to 16-10. Spears added another kill at 19-11, and Texas used another block from Harvey and Anderson to build a 22-14 advantage. Bunton put the Longhorns at set point with a kill, and Stafford finished the set with a kill as Texas won, 25-19.
Anderson opened the scoring for Texas in the fourth set with a kill, and Spears and Stafford added early kills for Texas. Arizona State gradually extended its advantage, but the Longhorns continued to produce at the net, with blocks from Harvey, Spears, Anderson, Vander Wal and Bunton. Arizona State closed out the set, 25-18, to secure the 3-1 victory.
Texas will return to action Monday, Aug. 24, against Marquette in the AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on FS2.
