The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-1,0-0SEC
Marquette
0-1,0-0Big East
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
| Marquette | 25 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 8 | 2 |
No. 2 Volleyball tops Marquette in AVCA First Serve finale
08.24.2026 | Volleyball
MILWAUKEE – No. 2 Texas Volleyball earned its first win of the 2026 season, defeating Marquette, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 15-8), Monday night in the finale of the AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum.
Texas improved to 1-1 on the season, while Marquette fell to 0-1. The match marked the first regular-season meeting between the two programs and the second overall with Texas claiming the victory in both matchups.
Torrey Stafford led all players with 19 kills and 12 digs to record a double-double, hitting .341 on the night. Cari Spears added 17 kills and seven digs while hitting .371, and four service aces to match a career high. Abby Vander Wal contributed 14 kills, two aces and four blocks.
Rella Binney recorded a double-double with a match-high 36 assists, matching her career high, and 11 digs. Ramsey Gary led all players with 16 digs, while Nya Bunton added a match-high seven blocks and five kills.
Texas finished with 10 service aces and found its offensive rhythm as the match progressed. After hitting .141 through the first two sets, the Longhorns hit .343 in the third, .278 in the fourth and .529 in the deciding fifth set.
Marquette took the opening set, 25-22, in a back-and-forth frame that featured eight ties. Texas pulled even at 14-14 after a kill from Vander Wal, but the Golden Eagles created separation late. Vander Wal and Taylor Harvey teamed for a block to bring the Longhorns within two at 21-19 before Marquette closed the set.
Texas answered in the second set, battling through another close frame. A service ace by Gary tied the set at 17-17, and Spears followed with a kill to even the score again at 18-18. Binney then delivered a service ace to put Texas in front for good at 19-18. The Longhorns extended their lead with a block from Spears, Bunton and Stafford that made it 23-18. Stafford closed the set with a kill, giving Texas a 25-19 win and tying the match at one set apiece.
The Longhorns carried the momentum into the third set, turning an 8-8 tie into a 17-12 advantage. Spears recorded two service aces during the run, while Vander Wal and Stafford added kills and Texas received a pair of blocks. Vander Wal added another kill and ace as Texas continued to pull away. After building a 21-14 lead, the Longhorns closed the set with four of the final six points, including a pair of kills from Harvey, to win 25-16.
Marquette forced a fifth set by taking the fourth, 25-23. The Golden Eagles built a 15-11 lead before a Stafford ace sparked a Texas rally closed out with three consecutive kills, cutting the deficit to 18-17. Texas pulled within one again at 22-21 on a block from Harvey and Henley Anderson, but Marquette answered with a kill and a block before a Texas service error closed out the set.
Texas dominated the deciding set from the start, scoring the first five points behind three consecutive Spears kills and punctuated by a block by Spears and Bunton. Stafford added two kills during the early run, and another Stafford kill gave Texas a 10-6 advantage. An Anderson kill extended the lead to 12-7 before Vander Wal and Spears delivered the final three kills of the match, securing the 15-8 victory.
Texas returns to action Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Longhorns travel to Las Vegas to face No. 18 TCU in the Players Era Volleyball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena. First serve is set for 9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT), and the match will be broadcast live on FS1.
