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 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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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) 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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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 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.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
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.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
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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Texas volleyball suffered its first loss of the season Friday at Texas A&M. But the No. 2 Longhorns (18-1, 10-1 SEC) still have two of their top season goals in front of them, if they can rebound Sunday at home against No. 3 Kentucky.
The SEC regular-season championship is the first goal for Texas. Kentucky (17-2, 10-0) is alone atop the SEC standings in what looks like a three-team race. Texas A&M (18-3, 10-1) is now tied with the Longhorns for second place, and both teams are two games ahead of fourth-place Florida.
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Earlier this season, Kentucky handed the Aggies their lone SEC loss. That means Texas will likely have to beat Kentucky if it hopes to at least grab a share of the SEC regular-season championship.
MORE: Texas volleyball: How Torrey Stafford’s career night lifted Longhorns to win over Tennessee
SEC teams play each other once in league play. The conference will host a postseason tournament Nov. 21-25 in Savannah, Ga.
Securing a top-four national seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament remains the second regular-season goal for the Longhorns. The top four seeds host both the first and second rounds as well as the regional tournaments, which means they won’t have to travel in the NCAA Tournament until a possible appearance in the Final Four Dec. 18-21 in Kansas City, Mo.
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In the latest RPI rankings released Oct. 27 by the NCAA, Texas ranked No. 1 above No. 2 Nebraska. Pittsburg, Arizona and Kentucky rounded out the top five. The Longhorns will likely drop in the next round of the RPI rankings released next week, assuming Nebraska remains unbeaten. However, a win over Kentucky will likely keep Texas among the top four despite the loss to the Aggies.
Sunday’s match starts at noon. Follow along for scores and live updates from Texas volleyball vs. Kentucky.
MORE: Texas volleyball: Freshmen Cari Spears and Abby Vander Wal blossoming into star players
Texas Longhorns outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (6) celebrates a point as the Longhorns take on TCU at Gregory Gym in Austin, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Ayden Ames fires a kill to fend off one set point and Cari Spears erases another, but too much Eva Hudson (20 kills), who finishes it off. Kentucky wins 3-0.
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Texas setter Ella Swindle bends her leg awkwardly while sliding for a dig, and they’re taking a look during a timeout. She seems OK; Texas will need her down the stretch. Kentucky leads 2-0.
Nothing less than the SEC championship is on the line over the next few points for Texas. Kentucky leads 2-0.
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The Wildcats’ offense has come back to earth a bit; they’re now hitting .319. The Longhorns needed OH Torrey Stafford to heat up, and she’s responded with 14 kills and just two hitting errors on 31 swings. Kentucky leads 2-0.
Texas grabs its biggest lead of the game. A good sign in a must-win set. Kentucky leads 2-0.
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The Wildcats fend off three set points for Texas and claim a 2-0 lead on the 14th kill of the match by Eva Hudson. Clutch performance by Kentucky, especially with Greg in full throat. Kentucky leads 2-0.
Two poor sets in a row from Rella Binney, who’s added some juice to the floor for the Longhorns. Timeout, Texas. Let’s see if coach Jerritt Elliott gets setter Ella Swindle back on the court. Kentucky leads 1-0.
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Ayden Ames has changed this game. The Texas middle gets her hands on another shot, Rella Binney keeps it alive with a set to Torrey Stafford, and Stafford puts home her eighth kill of the game. Timeout, Kentucky. Kentucky leads 1-0.
Texas had just one block in the match before Ayden Ames and Abby Vander Wal snuff back-to-back Wildcat shots. The crowd gets rowdy and the Wildcats take a timeout. Kentucky leads 1-0.
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Torrey Stafford (seven kills, one hitting error) is starting to heat up, and the Longhorns are hitting .400 this set. They still need to tighten up the serve-receive and get a touch on more Wildcat shots considering Eva Hudson and Brooklyn Deleye have a combined 18 kills and one hitting error for UK. Kentucky leads 1-0.
Texas finally gets on a little spurt and briefly ties the game at 11-11. The crowd gets some energy; can the Longhorns sustain this surge? Kentucky leads 1-0.
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The Wildcats can’t play any better, can they? They just committed their first hitting error or a block from, hey, Ayden Ames. But they’re still firing at a rate of .583. Kentucky leads 1-0.
Maybe its because Kentucky has an Eastern time zone body clock and that helps with the time change? Whatever the reason, the Wildcats seem a bit more awake than the Longhorns. They dominate while winning the first set, and Texas coach Jerritt Elliott needs some answers. Maybe Ayden Ames will rotate in to give the middles a jolt.
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The Wildcats are one of the few teams that can consistently get a shot over the Texas block, and they’re getting a lot of tipped kills. They’re hitting .591 as a team behind five kills from Brooklyn Deleye and four from Eva Hudson. The Texas block has to have a bigger impact on those attackers.
Set 1: Kentucky 10, Texas 5
No one calls a timeout with more disdain that Texas coach Jerritt Elliott. Kentucky puts down an overpass by Ella Swindle, prompting the timeout. Kentucky has seven kills without an error on 12 swings; Texas has three kills and two errors on the same number of swings.
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Texas is having some issues initiating its offense early in the match. Kentucky on the offensive to open things up.
Texas will start setter Ella Swindle; outside hitters Torrey Stafford, Cari Spears and Abby Vander Wal; middle blockers Nya Bunton and Taylor Harvey; defensive specialist Ramsey Gary; and libero Emma Halter. Kentucky will start Kassie O’Brien, Eva Hudson, Kennedy Washington, Molly Tuozzo, Lizzie Carr, Brooklyn Deleye and Asoa Thigpen.
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Where: Gregory Gymnasium in Austin
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