It was a busy Friday-to-Thursday stretch for Texas Longhorns women’s sports, highlighted by a comeback win for volleyball, an SEC victory for Texas soccer under first-year head coach Margueritte Bates, and strong performances at the ITA All-American Championships.
Review: Sept. 25-Oct. 1
Texas volleyball earns SEC win over Tennessee, but falls to Kentucky
No. 7 Texas volleyball opened SEC play Friday with a 3-2 comeback victory over No. 13 Tennessee in Knoxville. The Longhorns dropped the first two sets before winning the final
three, 25-18, 25-22, and 15-11. Torrey Stafford led Texas with 28 kills, while Rella Binney recorded 54 assists and 14 digs.
Two days later, Texas volleyball went on to fall to Kentucky in straight sets, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21, in front of one of the largest crowds in school history. The Horns only hit .188, allowed the Wildcats to hit .269, and committed nine service errors.
Texas volleyball is now 5-5 overall and 1-1 in SEC play, the team’s worst start since 2003 when the Longhorns missed the NCAA Tournament, the only time during head coach Jerritt Elliott’s long and illustrious tenure on the Forty Acres that his team missed postseason play. In fact, the Horns have only played one game at Gregory Gymnasium so far this season.
The Statesman has some reasons for optimism despite the tough start as the schedule lightens.
Texas soccer earns first SEC win under Bates
Texas followed Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Florida with a 2-0 victory at Ole Miss on Sept. 27. Ashlyn Anderson scored 70 seconds into the match before Ava McDonald added a second-half goal. Meanwhile, Bayliss Flynn made five saves for her sixth clean sheet of the 2026 regular season.
The victory marked Texas’ first SEC win under Bates, who was hired this past offseason. The Longhorns are now 6-2-3 overall and 1-1-2 in conference play, enough to move up to No. 22 in the national rankings.
Rose Marie Nijkamp reaches ITA semifinals
Rose Marie Nijkamp reached the singles semifinals at the ITA All-American Championships, while she and Carmen Herea also advanced to the doubles semifinals. Nijkamp later fell to Ohio State standout Luciana Perry, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Later, Nijkamp and Herea lost to North Carolina’s star duo Maddy Zampardo and Susanna Maltby, 6-1, 6-2. Texas’ tournament ended on Saturday.
Texas swimming season opener
No. 3 Texas opened its 2026-27 season at the Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Invitational. Freshmen Mena Boardman and Audrey Derivaux each won two individual events, while Sydney Schoeck won the 1,000 freestyle and moved to No. 9 on Texas’ all-time performers list in the event.
Texas cross country competes at Gans Creek Classic
Texas’ women finished 20th at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri, scoring 532 points. The Longhorns combined for 13 personal-best performances across the men’s and women’s teams.
Texas softball is back
Texas softball also opened its fall slate against Murray State on Sept. 29 at McCombs Field.
The back-to-back Women’s College World Series champions won 28-1.
Preview: Oct. 2-8
Friday, Oct. 2: Texas volleyball vs. Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. Central at SEC Network+. Texas returns home to host Mississippi State at Gregory Gymnasium in its conference home opener after spending a month away from the Greg. The Bulldogs arrive in Austin with a nine-game winning streak.
Friday, Oct. 2: Texas beach volleyball vs. TCU, 1 p.m. Central. The Longhorns begin their fall beach volleyball competition against the Horned Frogs in Austin.
Saturday, Oct. 3: Texas beach volleyball vs. TCU, 9 a.m. Central. The Longhorns meet TCU again Saturday at the Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex.
Saturday, Oct. 3: Cross country at Chile Pepper Festival, Women’s 5K, 11:25am Central. Texas travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Chile Pepper Festival.
Sunday, Oct. 4: Texas volleyball vs. Alabama, 12 p.m. Central at SEC Network+. The Horns on the Forty Acres with a match against the 14th-place Crimson Tide.
Sunday, Oct. 4: Texas soccer vs. Oklahoma, 2 p.m. Central at SEC Network. Texas returns to Mike A. Myers Stadium to host Oklahoma in another SEC matchup.
