Volleyball game between the Texas Longhorns and Baylor Bears at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas on September 19, 2025. (Photo: UT Athletics)
The No. 2 Texas Longhorns closed out their challenging non-conference schedule with a flawless 8-0 record, sweeping the No. 21 Baylor Bears in three dominant sets (25-18, 25-12, 25-13) before a roaring, sold-out crowd at Gregory Gym. This victory was a defining moment for the Longhorns, marking their seventh win against a top-25 ranked opponent this season, and an incredible fifth sweep of a ranked foe. The program also extended its historical dominance over their rivals, improving their all-time home record against Baylor to an unblemished 51-0.
This remarkable consistency was underscored by the team's third consecutive home sweep against a ranked opponent, completing a trifecta of powerful shutouts against No. 9 Arizona State, No. 9 TCU, and now No. 21 Baylor. The team’s efficiency and explosive offense were led by freshman sensation Cari Spears, who delivered a breathtaking performance, tying her career high with a match-leading 18 kills on a staggering .654 attack percentage. Beyond her hitting prowess, Spears contributed to every facet of the game, adding three blocks, four digs, and a service ace in only her eighth collegiate appearance.
The entire team excelled from the service line, recording a season-high eight service aces. Setter Ella Swindle led the match with three aces, while both libero Emma Halter and outside hitter Torrey Stafford contributed two each. This impressive distribution of service winners was the first time three Longhorns had recorded two or more aces in a match since their contest against Oklahoma last season, demonstrating a dangerous variety in their attack.
In the first set, the closest of the night, Texas maintained control by hitting .333 and achieving a strong 78% sideout percentage. Spears set the offensive pace with six kills as the Longhorns established a 17-10 lead before scoring the final three points to take the set 25-18. The second set quickly turned into a Texas rout, as the Longhorns unleashed a seven-point scoring run to build a virtually insurmountable 17-4 advantage. Texas nearly doubled Baylor's kill count 16-8, with Stafford adding four of her 10 total kills, while the team recorded four of its eight aces, pushing the final score to 25-12.
The Longhorns completed the clean sweep in the third set by turning up the pressure defensively, holding Baylor to their lowest attack percentage of the match at .121 on just 10 kills. The Texas front line was formidable, tallying five of their 11 total blocks, a defensive effort led by freshman Taylor Harvey, who earned her third start and anchored the team with four total blocks. Having successfully navigated the most challenging opening schedule in the country, the undefeated Longhorns are now poised to begin their conference play, hosting Vanderbilt on Wednesday.
University of Texas Volleyball
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