In collegiate volleyball, elite players help teams reach the top 10, but roster depth separates programs that make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Texas volleyball sits at 4–2 in Southeastern Conference play and dropped to No. 12 after the unranked Oklahoma Sooners swept it on Sunday, following two rough matches against Alabama and Arkansas. Head coach Jerritt Elliott has had to make many lineup decisions because of player injuries and inconsistent starter performances in recent matches.
Before facing the Sooners, Texas played the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday. In that match, Texas had many unforced errors, most notably from the front row. Sophomore outside hitter Cari Spears struggled to find her own rhythm and hit .077. After losing the opening set, Elliott made the change and subbed in sophomore outside hitter Addy Gaido for Spears in the middle of the second set.
Immediately, Gaido produced. She garnered 12 kills against the Razorbacks and six against the Sooners when she played again. It was Gaido’s fifth game of her collegiate career.
Emma Cugino, freshman libero and defensive specialist, has worked her way off the bench with a quieter impact for the Longhorns. She has helped the Longhorns through her aggressive defense.
“(Cugino) was probably last on the depth chart at the end of the preseason. She was just a little intimidated. She was a little quiet,” Elliott said. “She’s really developed into a more aggressive and confident player.”
Injuries have forced the Longhorns to call up bench players, and younger players have had to step up and fill the starters’ shoes.
Freshman outside hitter Henley Anderson has had to fill in for sophomore Abby Vander Wal, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering an ACL tear at the start of the season.
“Henley’s got a big role and put up some real big numbers last week, which we needed and was really nice to see,” Elliott said. “It’s exciting to see those guys develop.”
In Texas’ past four matches, starting senior middle blocker Nya Bunton has not taken the court due to an injury. As a result, sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Collins has stepped up and filled Bunton’s role. Collins recorded a career-high five kills in her debut against Mississippi State.
“I mean, you miss a lot with Nya because she can run a lot of different play routes for you,” Elliott said. “Mackenzie is just new, right? I mean, she’s a dynamic athlete. I think you saw (it) in the very first swing against Mississippi State. She came in, and she’s got a better arm than Nya.”
Freshman middle blocker Camille Presley debuted against Arkansas and played against the Sooners. She recorded a combined one kill, block and dig.
“Nya is going to come back, but our middles, even our freshman Camille, (have) been doing a good job,” senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford said after the Mississippi State game.
As injuries and new lineups force young talent into high-pressure roles, Texas’ SEC schedule continues to test its resilience. Ranked or unranked, Texas is expected to compete at a high level. If the Longhorns can reset their momentum for a postseason run, the push will ultimately come from the bench.
