By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Expectations are always sky high for the Texas volleyball team, and it will not be any different for the 2025 Longhorns.
Texas (20-7. 13-3 SEC in 20204) will be a blend of seasoned veterans and a dynamic newcomers, hoping to return to the NCAA Final Four after falling to Creighton in last year’s Sweet 16.
Head coach Jerritt Elliott enters his 25th season as the Longhorns. For the first time in three years, he won’t have the offensive production of three-time AVCA All-American Madisen Skinner at the outside hitter position.
Despite the loss of Skinner and All-SEC middle blocker Marianna Singletary (transferred to UCLA), Elliott has a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season.
It starts with the leadership at the setter position and junior Ella Swindle, who had 265 assists in 20 matches in a backup role. The offense will likely be Swindle’s to manage, but sophomore Rella Binney could share setter duties.
Whoever emerges as the setter will have a deep group of outside hitters to dish the ball to, which includes Pitt transfer and AVCA All-American Torrey Stafford, senior Devin Kahahawai and redshirt-senior Whitney Lauenstein.
Freshmen Macaria Spears (Prestonwood Christian), Addy Gaido (Georgetown) and Abby Vander Wal (Timothy Christian) will compete for playing time and provides youth at the position.
Sophomore middle blocker Ayden Ames is a big presence at the net and exploded onto the scene in 2024, earning All‑Freshman SEC honors after notching 88 blocks. Ames will team up with redshirt sophomore Nya Bunton to provide Texas’ net defense.
Aside from the outside hitter position, the Longhorns have a pretty full room at the libero position. Senior Emma Halter leads a deep group of defensive specialists that includes local high school standouts sophomore Reese Emerick (Westlake) and freshman Callie Kruger (Dripping Springs), along with Virginia Commonwealth transfer junior Anja Kujundzic and Indiana transfer Ramsey Gary, also a junior.
If there’s a weakness on this team, it’s not at the libero position.
Texas kicks off 2025 with the Opening Spike Classic in Madison, Wisconsin on Aug. 29, facing Creighton and Wisconsin. The Longhorns will play their inaugural match inside the Moody Center against Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 7.
The schedule challenges the Longhorns with 14 matchups against NCAA Tournament teams, including a robust 15‑match SEC slate.
Projected starting lineup
OH – Torey Stafford (#4), 6-2, junior, Torrance, California
OH – Devin Kahahawai (#44), 6-4, senior, Kailua, Hawaii
OPP – Whitney Laurenstein (#26), 6-2, r-senior, Waverly, Nebraska
MB – Ayden Ames (#5), 6-4, sophomore, Prosper, Texas
MB – Nya Bunton (#55), 6-3, redshirt sophomore, Louisville, Kentucky
S – Ella Swindle (#1), 6-3, junior, Columbia, Missouri
L – Emma Halter (#26), 5-5, senior, Indianapolis, Indiana
Breakout candidate
Abby Vander Wal, FR, OH
One of the most promising newcomers on the team, freshman Abby Vander Wal has the potential to make an immediate impact. With her athleticism and impressive hitting ability, she is expected to contribute heavily on the outside. Vander Wal’s development throughout the season could play a significant role in shaping Texas’ offense and deepening their attacking options.
Our take
Texas has a very high ceiling despite the loss of three-time All-American Madsen Skinner. The biggest question for the Longhorns will be with the net defense due to a lack of depth behind Ayden Ames. The Longhorns will be SEC contenders, but may be an underdog in the national title picture.
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