The Longhorns showcased a strong performance back at Gregory Gymnasium Wednesday night, sweeping the Bulldogs after the Florida Gators snapped their home win streak Oct. 18.
From the first point, No. 14 Texas volleyball found a strong rhythm and put pressure on the Georgia Bulldogs, largely set up by its setting rotation.
Recently, freshman setter Genevieve Harris has been subbed in to run the Texas offense after starting junior setter Rella Binney. Harris is subbed in alongside sophomore hitter Addy Gaido, running a 6-2 rotation.
“Rella’s a little smaller … then defensively we weren’t as good behind the block,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said about Texas running a 6-2. “Addy has gotten better and started really producing in our practice gym, and (Harris) has gotten a lot better.”
Gaido recorded four kills and hit .429 percent during the match. She helped Texas by setting a competitive block against opponents’ outside hitters, the team’s strongest hitters.
“Those two (Harris and Giado) showing up every day of practice and seeing that, it gave us confidence to say, ‘Hey, we need to start looking at this because we can get some more production here,’” Elliott said.
Harris has done a good job setting tempo balls to the offense off of imperfect passes. Against Georgia she utilized her setting location throughout the match, especially with the pin hitters. Harris recorded 16 assists.
The Bulldogs tried to apply pressure through their offense, but the Longhorns’ defense kept the ball off the floor and kept the team in system. Texas’s senior libero Ramsey Gary has been an anchor in the back row. She recorded 13 digs and one ace during the matchup.
“Ramesy is a dog back there,” senior hitter Torrey Stafford said. “(She) makes it a lot easier when we’re playing a really good outside hitter.”
Gary’s defensive range lets hitters like Stafford swing from the back row, making Texas more versatile and harder to defend offensively. Stafford recorded 15 kills and hit .313 in tonight’s game.
“She’s just giving balls and ready for me to tram to get a kill,” Stafford said. “Yeah, she’s a dog. That’s all I can say.”
Texas will return to Gregory Gymnasium on Sunday for the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown against the reigning 2025 National Champions, the Texas A&M Aggies, at 12 p.m.
The No. 17 Aggies are coming off a sweep against the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats, who swept the Longhorns earlier this season.
“This is what makes it fun: the rivalry, right?” Elliott said post-game about Sunday’s match. “You want to be a part of it.”
