The No. 2 Texas Longhorns (18-2) endured their second consecutive loss after hosting the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats (18-2), falling in a 3-0 sweep on Sunday and marking the first sweep of Texas since facing Stanford in 2023.

In the first set, Kentucky took an early 5-1 taking advantage though Texas attacking errors and landing their own attacks. The Wildcats kept the pressure throughout the, set hitting a .571 with zero attacking errors against 16 kills to keep the lead. Junior setter Ella Swindle recorded 11 assists while the Longhorns totaled 11 kills and 8 digs in the set. The Longhorns dropped the opening set of the match to the Wildcats, 25-14 as Kentucky won control of the net with six blocks compared to zero for Texas.

In a much closer second set, the Longhorns managed to keep it tight, but the persistent Wildcat offense and defense continued to attack and counter the Longhorns to keep the edge. Sophomore middle blocker Ayden Ames notched all five blocks the Longhorns recorded in the set, Swindle totaled 10 assists, and junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford registered seven kills while hitting .417. Despite two set points for Texas, Kentucky pulled away with the favorable 2-0 lead by securing the second set 28-26 despite a Longhorn 10-1 scoring run. And although the Horns defended better with 10 blocks, the attack still wasn’t sharp enough with a .220 hitting percentage.

In a close final set, the Longhorns managed to keep the lead through most of it. The Longhorns pulled away momentarily with a 15-12 advantage, but could not maintain it. Senior libero Emma Halter held the back line down contributing 6 digs while Swindle lent a hand recording 14 assists. The Longhorns offense notched 19 kills with a .333 hitting percentage, but the Wildcats closed out the final set, 27-25, behind five late kills from Eva Hudson and Brooklyn DeLeye.

Stafford and freshman outside hitter Cari Spears combined for 28 kills for the Longhorns. Stafford tallied 15 kills while hitting .342, along with seven digs and two blocks. Ames tied her season high with six blocks and five kills for the Longhorns. Swindle led the team with 33 assists, adding five digs and two blocks in the loss and is now one assist away from 2,000 career assists.

Texas returns to the road to challenge No. 25 Florida on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Central on SEC Network.