Volleyball game between the Texas Longhorns and Pen State Nittany Lions at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas on December 6, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
The atmosphere was electric as the No. 3 Texas Longhorns Volleyball team delivered an absolutely commanding performance, sweeping the No. 25 Penn State Nittany Lions in a spectacular display of skill and teamwork. The final scores read 25-16, 25-9, and 25-19, a decisive victory that pushes the Longhorns impressive season record to 25-3. With this win, Texas secures its spot in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the 20th consecutive season the program has achieved this prestigious feat.
The Longhorns attack was simply unstoppable, fueled by an outstanding effort from junior Torrey Stafford. Stafford delivered a match-leading 21 kills, showcasing her efficiency with a scorching .556 hitting percentage. This marks the fourth match this season where she has hit over .500, proving her consistency as a dominant force.
Complementing her performance were the exceptional freshmen. Abby Vander Wal contributed 10 kills and two blocks while maintaining an impressive .474 hitting percentage. Fellow freshman Cari Spears added nine kills, three blocks, and three digs, recording her seventh game hitting over .400 with a .467 percentage tonight. The entire team's precision was evident in the overall team hitting percentage of .452, the sixth time this season Texas has surpassed the .400 mark.
Not to be overshadowed, the Longhorns defense erected a formidable wall at the net, totaling nine blocks for the match. This stands as the fourth highest block total for Texas in a three set match this season. The effort was spearheaded by Nya Bunton and Ayden Ames, who each recorded four blocks. The Texas defense successfully stifled the Nittany Lions' offense, limiting them to a mere .124 hitting percentage and forcing 22 errors throughout the contest.
Set One: Texas established its authority early. Penn State struggled against the Longhorns pressure, recording a .167 hitting percentage, four service errors, and eight attacking errors. Stafford set the pace with six kills, hitting .455. Defensive specialist Ramsey Gary anchored the back row, adding five digs for Texas.
Set Two: The Longhorns completely dominated the second frame, turning a comfortable lead into an absolute rout. An overwhelming 11-0 scoring run extended the lead to 19-7. This run included a spectacular two consecutive block effort involving Spears, Bunton, and Stafford. Texas ultimately seized the set 25-9, hitting a phenomenal .700 while holding the Lions to a negative hitting percentage of -.065. Spears notched six kills in the set, and Ella Swindle provided 10 assists. Bunton was a key presence at the net, contributing three of the team's four blocks in the set.
Set Three: Texas sealed the sweep, triumphing 25-19 in the third set. Stafford continued her hot streak with 11 kills, hitting .611, and Gary once again provided stability with six digs on defense. Saturday's stellar performance marked the 11th ranked win of the season for the Horns.
The road to the championship continues for the Longhorns. They now turn their focus to the next challenge as they prepare to face off against the No. 15 Indiana Hoosiers in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
University of Texas Volleyball
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