Rising sophomore Mackenzie Collins started as a track and field athlete for the Longhorns in the 2025 season. Now, she will also be part of the Texas volleyball team as a middle blocker.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Texas volleyball lost middle blocker Ayden Ames to the transfer portal. Ames averaged 1.52 kills per set and led the team with 1.11 blocks per set. Texas had only sophomore middle blocker Taylor Harvey and redshirt junior Nya Bunton to fill in for the middle blocker position. In case of injuries, a third middle blocker is helpful, if not needed, on the roster.
In high school, Collins had committed to play volleyball for the Texas A&M Aggies, but then decommitted and arrived at Texas for track and field only. Collins is not new to being a standout dual-sport athlete; in high school, she was an Under Armour All-American for volleyball, a USATF National Junior Olympics member and a 2022 6A two-time state gold medalist.
Last season, Collins competed for the Longhorns in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay. Notable finishes for Collins include winning the 400-meter hurdles at the Texas Invitational, scoring at the SEC Outdoor Championships for the second consecutive season with a seventh-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles and competing in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA West preliminary round.
Collins becomes another notable dual-sport athlete on the Forty Acres alongside Jonah Williams, who is currently on the football and baseball teams for Texas. Both are the only active dual-sport athletes on campus.
With Collins on the roster, Texas volleyball brings more depth to help provide greater lineup options and navigate a difficult schedule this season. Last year, the team finished 26-4, falling to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Longhorns will begin the 2026 season against Arizona State on Aug. 22 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Jeep AVCA First Serve.