Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) spikes the ball during the match against Kentucky at Gregory Gym on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Austin.
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SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Texas volleyball team fell short in its first appearance in an SEC tournament title game Tuesday.
After taking an early lead on the top-seeded Wildcats, the Longhorns suffered a reversed sweep (25-19, 28-26, 24-26, 22-25, 9-15). Now Texas awaits Selection Sunday to learn where it will be seeded for the NCAA Tournament.
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It’s the second time this season the Longhorns (23-3, 13-2) have lost to the Kentucky. Torrey Stafford had her 11th double-double of the season with 28 kills and 10 digs while hitting .471. Texas hadn’t lost in about three weeks, taking down Texas A&M in the semifinals and riding a five-game win streak dating back to the regular season. The Longhorns were the second seed in the tournament.
MORE: What to know as No. 3 Longhorns start SEC tournament
MORE: How can Texas beat No. 1 seed Kentucky
Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) spikes the ball during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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The Texas Longhorns huddle on the court ahead of the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns libero Emma Halter (2) and outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) attempt to return a serve during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) spikes the ball during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (6) spikes the ball during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) returns a serve during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players and fans celebrate beating the Texas Longhorns in the annual Lone Star Showdown volleyball rivalry match at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Ava Atwood (12) misses a serve return during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Addie Applegate (2) celebrates a score against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players line up for the national anthem ahead of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M fans sing chants during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Ava Underwood (12) returns a serve during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) spikes the ball during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M fans wave signs during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jerritt Elliott walks the cour during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) and setter Maddie Waak (16) celebrate a score against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M celebrates a score against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison talks to his players between sets during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) returns a serve during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) serves the ball during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns players miss a block during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns middle blocker Nya Bunton (55) celebrates a score during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players leave the court after a second set win against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) and opposite hitter Logan Lednicky (9) miss a block during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns setter Ella Swindle (1) celebrates a score during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Addie Applegate (2) returns a serve during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (4) spikes the ball during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M head volleyball coach Jamie Morrison walks the court during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) jumps to block a ball tipped by Texas Longhorns setter Rella Binney (3) during the game at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M fans cheer after a defensive block during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns libero Ramsey Gary (32) steps up to serve during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns outside hitter Cari Spears (23) reacts to a blocked spike during the game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M outside hitter Taryn Morris (6) and middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (1) jump to block a spike during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate beating the Texas Longhorns in the annual Lone Star Showdown volleyball rivalry match at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M players celebrate beating the Texas Longhorns in the annual Lone Star Showdown volleyball rivalry match at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas A&M players celebrate beating the Texas Longhorns in the annual Lone Star Showdown volleyball rivalry match at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas A&M libero Tatum Thomas (3) picks up the Lone Star Showdown trophy after beating the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Here are the set-by-set updates from the game.
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Spears kill attempt goes long to make it 12-9. Ames is blocked at the net to extend the Wildcat lead. A Hudson kill finds the back line for match point.
Kentucky is called for a net fault and a Vander Wal kill ties the match at eight. Texas goes to Vander Wal again who finds a touch, but Kentucky challenges and the call was reversed to be 9-8 Wildcats. Vander Wal finds the block to tie it at nine. Kentucky makes it 10 after a kill. Hudson gets another kill. Texas calls for a timeout.
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Spears’ kill ties it at seven. Kentucky tools the block to make it eight. Time to switch sides.
Bunton swings into the Kentucky block to extend the lead to three. But Stafford goes angle to cut the deficit to two. Spears floats a ball over that lands in the middle of the court. But a Swindle service error makes it a two-point lead again. Then a Stafford kill could not be contained by the Wildcats.
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Texas is called for the net violation trying to block the Kentucky kill; Elliott challenges the call and the call is confirmed. Kentucky responds with a kill that goes angle. Texas calls a timeout.
Texas opens the set with a Stafford kill and Hudson block, but Kentucky sends down a kill. A Stafford kill attempt goes long to tie it. Swindle takes it for herself and gets a touch on the throw down. But Kentucky responds with a block.
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Vander Wal gets a touch on a kill to hold off the Wildcats, 24-22. But a dig from Stafford hits one of the pins to give Kentucky the set win.
Out of the Kentucky timeout, Stafford comes flying out of the back row for a kill. Spears joins on the fun to make it 21-20, but a Hudson kill keeps Texas down, 22-20. A Kentucky service error brings the Longhorns within one. Texas is called for a net violation to make it 23-21, Kentucky. A kill attempt from Spears goes wide to make it set point for the Wildcats. Texas calls a time out.
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Texas goes on a 3-0 run after a Kentucky kill and forces the Wildcats to call a timeout.
Elliott calls a timeout after a Kentucky ace to reach the red zone.
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Carr throws down a ball that hung in the air a bit too long. Texas challenges for contact on a Vander Wal kill to make it 16-13, upon review. DeLeye stops any Texas momentum after flying to make the kill. Stafford finds the court for the back-row kill, but a Halter service error makes it 18-14. Stafford finds a spot on the court to throw it down.
Hudson is heating up for the Wildcats and her third kill makes Texas call a timeout.
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Stafford’s swings are willing the Longhorns into the match but a service error had too much sauce on it to keep Kentucky ahead 12-10. Texas challenges a Texas kill that landed out and the call was overturned to get within one, but Hudson flies to extend the lead 13-11. Kentucky goes to Hudson again and tools the block. A Wildcat service error cuts the deficit.
Two kills by Spears tie the match for Texas but DeLeye lands a ball that Spears tried to pancake for the 8-7 lead. Texas was called for double contact to extend the lead by two. Texas’ block stuffs a DeLeye kill. A Stafford kill ties the match at nine. A Texas free ball finds its way to Kentucky’s Hudson for a kill.
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A Bunton ace continues the Texas run, but a Carr kill stops the run. Spears goes for the kill but the Wildcats go back to Carr for the kill. Spears comes flying out of the back row to cut the deficit.
Kentucky strikes first with an offspeed that could not be pancaked and a Spears kill goes wide. Hudson nails an angled shot to start the Wildcats on a 3-0 run. Texas is called for the net violation after a rally full of pancakes and digs on the wrist. A Kentucky free ball fails to clear the net to give Texas’ its first point. A Vander Wal kill cuts into the lead.
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Illegal contact on Texas makes it 23-22 Longhorns. A Swindle kill makes it match point, but Hudson makes it a second match point. Texas is challenging there was contact on an Ames kill but the call is confirmed to tie it at 24. A bad pass from Halter makes it Kentucky set point and Thigpen responds to take the fourth set.
Binney serves an error to put Kentucky in the redzone. Vander Wal is blocked at the net and Texas calls a timeout.
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Ames goes for the offspeed kill in the middle of the court and swings hard in the middle to extend the lead.
DeLeye goes for the kill but Spears responds with a swing of her own. Stafford’s serve is long for a Kentucky point.
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Stafford goes angle to put the Longhorns in the redzone.
Some calls have not gone Kentucky’s way and are playing with a lot more intensity in the middle of a 4-1 run. But an Ames kill creates some separation for the Longhorns. Kentucky is called for four contacts after a Kahahawai kill.
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Kentucky is finding its rhythm and is not afraid to swing but Wildcat kills are going everywhere. Texas’ front is doing a better job reading the Kentucky defense. A Wildcat kill finally finds the court but the offense stalls on a service error.
Kentucky rallies off three kills but a service error stops the run. A Halter dig saves a Texas point and Stafford tools the block. But Texas’ momentum stalls after being called in the net. Ames throws down a kill at the net.
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Kentucky calls a timeout after a DeLeye attack error. Five of the seven points for the Longhorns have been Kentucky errors.
Kentucky opens set three with a DeLeye service error and an attack error that hit the right pin to give Texas a 2-0 lead. Kentucky is trying to find its groove as Texas just keeps rolling.
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Vander Wal goes off speed for the fifth Texas set point. Ames and Swindle combine for a block to take set two.
A Kentucky kill stops the Texas run out of the time out, but a Texas block stops a Kentucky rally. The Longhorns win a joust to make it 23-22 and a Stafford kill ties the match 23-23. Another Stafford kill makes it set point but a Kentucky kill ties it at 24. Texas goes to Nya Bunton in the middle to make it set point again, but a Hudson kill ties it at 25. Vander Wal fully lays out for the receive and Spears sides out the kill for the fourth set point. Kentucky goes to the Carr for a kill in the middle of the court to tie it at 26.
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A Stafford kill takes a sharp angle to land in to bring the Longhorns within three. An Emma Halter pancake was unsuccessful to save a Texas kill but Kentucky’s challenge overturned the call to make it a four point difference. However, two straight Stafford kills brings the Longhorns within two points and forces a Kentucky timeout.
Texas calls a timeout after a Kentucky block puts the Wildcats in the red zone. Texas is giving themselves opportunities to close the gap but Kentucky is starting to anticipate the Longhorns offense.
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Swindle’s service error gives Kentucky a three point lead out of the timeout. A rally with two free balls to Texas is completed with a Bunton kill but Eva Hudson sends a ball flying to the back row. Kentucky’s Carr’s offspeed could not be dug up for the Longhorns, but Texas responds with a block to close the deficit to three.
The Longhorns go on a 2-0 run forcing Kentucky to call a time out. Texas has been attacking the left pin during the run led by Stafford and Spears.
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Texas gets a gift of a Kentucky service error to help close the gap. Texas is having good points and are finding a good groove on offense. But Kentucky has met the Texas challenge. Kentucky service error closes the gap a bit.
Bunton throws down a kill but a few sloppy turns on offense force Elliott to call a timeout.
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Set two opens with with a Texas service error and a pair Kentucky aces. A Stafford kill gets the Longhorns on the board but it’s short lived after a Hudson kill.
Ayden Ames’ kill goes long for the Longhorns. Cari Spears serves the first error for Texas on set point and Vander Wal’s kill lands in the middle of the court to win the set.
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Longhorns stay aggressive at the net behind five Vander Wal kills this set and a couple of successful jousts. But Kentucky is coming after a few Texas mistakes on serve receive. Devin Kahahawai throws it down and Kentucky calls a timeout.
A few Kentucky kills go long to extend Texas’ lead. The Wildcats call a timeout. So far Texas’ offense is flawless with zero attack errors or service errors.
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Freshman Abby Vander Wal is leading the kills for the Longhorns with three. Swindle throws down an offspead for an early lead.
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Where: Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Ga.
