The No. 2 Texas Longhorns strung together their sixth straight sweep with a win against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on Wednesday, adding to the unbeaten streak to start the season that now stands at 11 games.
In the sweep, junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Ella Swindle registered 37 assists along with eight digs, making it her fourth straight game with at least 30 assists. Sophomore Rella Binney recorded assist number
100 of her career, while junior middle blocker Ayden Ames registered her 200th career kill in sweeping the Dawgs, 3-0.
In the first set, the Longhorns and the Dawgs battle opened with intensity as both teams battled for the lead until Texas edged out 8-4 with the help of Swindle lending a hand assisting her teammate’s offensive advances through the opening set. Once the Horns grabbed the lead they did not let go by gathering 18 kills, limiting the Dawgs to a .152 hitting percentage by forcing five errors against 10 kills for Georgia. Swindle dished out 12 assists as Stafford and true freshman outside hitter Cari Spears combined for eight kills in the first set, a 25-17 win thanks to a .395 hitting percentage by Texas, the match high for the Horns.
In the second and closest set of the night featured nine ties before Texas slipped away in the set with a 5-1 run. At the helm of the Longhorns offense were Stafford and Spears recording 15 kills while the Dawgs defense managed to keep the match close by tying it 15-15. An assist from Binney to true freshman outside hitter Abby Vander Wal managed to give Texas a slight edge as Swindle recorded 15 more assists to conclude the set, 25-21.
In the third set, Texas took an early lead after the Dawgs continued to nip at the hooves of the Longhorns. Georgia’s counter against Texas came to an end as the Longhorns went on a 5-1 run headlined by Stafford, Vander Wal, and Spears. Together the trio notched 16 total kills, six more than the Bulldogs in the third set to close the match, 25-20.
Texas travels to Starkville to battle Mississippi State at 2 p.m. Central on Oct. 5 on SEC Network+.
