It\u2019s time for the Lone Star Showdown, part two.<\/p>\n
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Weeks after\u00a0a five-set match on Halloween<\/a>, the Texas Longhorns<\/a> volleyball and the Texas A&M Aggies<\/a> will face off in an SEC tournament semifinal edition of the rivalry game \u2014 mere days before it’s football’s turn.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Both teams swept their opponents<\/a> in the quarterfinals and wanted to see their rival on the court again.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n “I think we knew going in as the second and third seed, and based on how the regular season ended, we were very excited,” Texas middle blocker Ayden Ames said Sunday night after the Ole Miss sweep<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I think we’re one of the best four teams in the country, and we’d like to have No. 1\u00a0seed in the NCAA Tournament. In terms of us proving ourselves to the NCAA committee, I’d love to see Texas, and I’d love to see Kentucky,” Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison<\/a> said after the Vanderbilt match Sunday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas A&M celebrates a score against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Here is what to know about both teams before they take the court Monday night at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns: What to know\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, losing two matches to the Aggies and Kentucky Wildcats<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n But outside hitter\u00a0Torrey Stafford has been on fire for the Longhorns, pacing the team with 410 kills and 28 aces. She has 94 kills in the last four games and swung for\u00a0a career-high 32 kills<\/a> in a five-set win over Auburn.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Since losing the two games in early November, the Longhorns are on a four-game winning streak and looked ready for the postseason against Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals. To be fair, Texas has won two national titles in the last five years and know what tournament grind looks like.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) returns a serve during the match against Kentucky at Gregory Gym on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n “Now that there’s obviously a shiny ball at the end of this tournament, I think these kids get really excited and they played really hard. They were dialed in, the best they’ve been in months,” Longhorns head coach Jerritt Elliott said after Sunday’s match<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas is also a team that has improved a lot on the block since losing to the Aggies and Wildcats with many players stepping up in the front row from senior Devin Kahahawai to freshman Taylor Harvey.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Who will win the SEC Volleyball Tournament? Predictions for Kentucky, Texas, more<\/a><\/p>\n Texas A&M Aggies: What to know<\/p>\n Texas A&M is having one of its best seasons in recent history. After falling short in the Sweet 16 to Wisconsin last year, the\u00a0Aggies have their best record since 1984 and best conference finish since 2015.<\/p>\n Morrison has turned the program around in three years at the helm but his nine seniors have put in a lot of work to bring the program up as well.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Opposite Logan Lednicky leads the team in kills (347); middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla leads in services aces (32), blocks (150) and is third in the nation<\/a> in blocks per set (1.66) and the\u00a0Aggies have the best setter in the country, Maddie Waak, 1,050 assists.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Texas A&M has a lot of depth and it should be on display against the Longhorns. But what is unique about the Aggies is that Morrison is using his experience with various national teams<\/a>, a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics with the men’s team and two more Olympic medals with the women’s team in the 2012 and 2016 games, to guide the Aggies in the postseason.<\/p>\n “I feel like I am back in my element, right now. I just go to bed early and my staff doesn’t work at night. Then I wake up early in the morning and try to prep everything that we’re gonna have tomorrow,” Morrison said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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