Live scores, updates from preseason scrimmag

Texas volleyball makes its 2025 debut noon Friday with a preseason scrimmage against visiting Utah.

The free event will serve as an introduction for a team with half of its players new to the program. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott, who led the Longhorns to back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023, signed five freshmen as part of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. He also welcomed three players in the transfer portal, including All-American attacker Torrey Stafford from Pittsburgh.

Stanford home opener at Moody Center a sellout

The Longhorns, ranked fifth in the preseason poll conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, should get a stern test from No. 23 Utah. Who will see the most swings opposite Stafford? Which young middle blockers will start after the defection of Marianna Singletary in the portal?  And can Ella Swindle handle the load at setter after splitting time at the position last season?

Follow below for live scores and updates.

Texas is closing in on a sweep, but the coaches may decide to go more just to get the work. The highlights so far for Texas? Torrey Stafford with 13 kills and Ella Swindle with an all-around game that includes 26 assists, seven digs, three aces and three kills.

Three straight service aces from Ella Swindle set the tone for this set. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott is starting to empty his bench, but Swindle has handled all the setting duties so far and has 23 assists.

Texas libero Emma Halter puts on a show in the final few points with a ace followed by several diving digs that helps fend off a set point for Utah. And how about Torrey Stafford; the Pitt transfer finishes off the set with three of her 10 kills in the final few points to put Texas up 2-0. 

Things were going so great for Texas, but Utah is on a 9-1 run against most of the Longhorn starters. Let’s see how the Longhorns handle some preseason pressure.

A little Ute surge and Texas coach Jerritt Elliott takes a timeout. Some situational scheming in a scrimmage; gotta love it.

Utah takes a timeout. This is a team with expectations to win the Big 12, but the Utes are having a hard time with all the Texas size. No one shorter that the 6-2 Torrey Stafford is rotating up front for Texas, and Stafford has been the best attacker on the court with seven kills.

Texas setter Ella Swindle is flashing the form she showed while starting every match as a freshman in 2023. She stuffs a Utah shot and celebrates with her teammates; that emotion is a big part of her game.

Freshman middle Taylor Harvey enters the match, and Texas briefly plays with an all-freshman of Harvey, Cari Spears and Abby Vander Wal. The future making an appearance for the Longhorns.

Impressive start by Texas, which has 12 kills and six errors on 35 swings. Coach Jerritt Elliott will take that in any preseason scrimmage. Torrey Stafford, who leads all attackers with four kills, finishes things off with a cross-court shot. Ella Swindle delivers 11 assists and looks fully in control of the Texas offense.

Nya Bunton is getting her swings in from the middle and now has two kills for Texas. The Longhorns are also serving well even though they have just one ace. Cari Spears looks very comfortable at the service line; she also looks like a six-rotation player

They may be young, but these Horns are big. And they’re starting to find some tempo with Ella Swindle, who has five assists. Torrey Stafford is showing off her diverse shot selection with a match-high three kills. She can hit every spot on the court.

So far, freshman Abbey Vander Wal and transfer defensive specialist Anna Kujundzic have already rotated in for the Longhorns, which gives you an idea of Jerritt Elliot’s plans.

The Longhorns will start setter Ella Swindle, outside hitters Cari Spears and Torrey Stafford, middle blockers Nya Bunton and Ayden Ames, libero Emma Halter and defensive specialist Ramsey Gary. All but Swindle and Halter are new to the Texas starting lineup. Stafford is the all-American transfer from Pittsburgh, Gary transfers in from Indiana, Spears is a freshman, and Bunton gets her shot after limited playing time in her first two seasons with the Longhorns.

Texas only has two true setters on its roster, and that depth could be tested early in the season since Rella Binney is sidelined with an injury to her left foot or ankle. The sophomore is in a walking boot on the sidelines, which means Ella Swindle is the only active setter that will see action today. We’ll see who else coach Jerritt Elliott uses at the position.

• Time: noon CT
• Date: Aug. 15
• Location: Gregory Gymnasium in Austin