AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas was picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference this season, but the American Volleyball Coaches Association thinks otherwise.
The Longhorns are No. 5 in the AVCA preseason poll, two spots ahead of Kentucky, the team picked ahead of them in the SEC poll. Texas has been in the preseason top five for 19 of the past 21 seasons.
Texas has a strong nonconference schedule in 2025, highlighted by the Opening Spike Classic against No. 12 Creighton and No. 8 Wisconsin to start the year Aug. 29 and 31, before coming home to play the first-ever match in Moody Center on Sept. 7 against No. 6 Stanford.
The Longhorns face No. 4 Louisville on Sept. 10 in Fort Worth, No. 25 TCU at home Sept. 17 and No. 20 Baylor on Sept. 19 in Austin.
Torrey Stafford, a junior transfer from Pitt, was a first-team All-American last season for the Panthers and is on the AVCA player of the year watch list for the Longhorns.
Nebraska received 40 first-place votes to claim the top spot, followed by defending national champs Penn State. Texas A&M will begin the season at No. 9.