No. 2 Texas volleyball wrapped up its preseason Friday night at Gregory Gymnasium with a five-set exhibition against Rice, giving the Longhorns one final opportunity to evaluate their lineup before the matches begin to count.
Texas won three of the five predetermined sets, but the night wasn't always smooth. The Longhorns showed the offensive firepower and young talent that could make them one of the nation's top teams this season while also battling service errors, inconsistent stretches and a Rice team that refused to go away. With the regular-season opener against Arizona State approaching, the exhibition offered Texas a useful look at both its potential and the areas that still need work.
The Longhorns got off to a shaky start, falling behind 4-0 in the opening set before quickly recovering. Once Texas settled in, the Longhorns took control and rolled to a 25-14 first-set victory. The second set proved much tighter. Rice stayed within striking distance throughout the frame, but Texas put together a late push to secure a 25-23 victory and take the first two sets of the night. Rice responded in the third.
Texas struggled to establish the same rhythm it had found earlier in the match, and repeated mistakes from the service line helped the Owls build momentum. Rice took advantage and won the third set 25-19.
The fourth became the most competitive stretch of the exhibition. Neither side could create enough separation to put the set away, turning the closing points into a back-and-forth battle. Texas eventually prevailed 29-27, with freshman Henley Anderson and senior Torrey Stafford helping the Longhorns finish the job.
Although Texas had already secured three set victories, the teams had agreed to play all five sets. Rice closed the exhibition by winning the shortened fifth set 15-9, leaving Texas with three set wins to Rice's two. One of the biggest questions surrounding Texas throughout the preseason has been the setter position. For the second consecutive exhibition, junior Rella Binney received the starting opportunity. Freshman Genevieve Harris also saw significant action as the Longhorns continued working with a 6-2 system.
The rotation left senior Ella Swindle in an unfamiliar position. Swindle, who helped Texas capture the 2023 national championship and has appeared in more than 80 collegiate matches, did not enter Friday's exhibition until the fourth set. Instead, Texas continued evaluating the combination of Binney and Harris, and the pair helped distribute opportunities across a deep group of attackers. Stafford, Cari Spears, Abby Vander Wal and Anderson each recorded at least eight kills based on unofficial totals, while Texas also found production through the middle.
With two preseason exhibitions complete, Binney and Harris appear to have positioned themselves prominently in Texas' setter plans entering the regular season.
Stafford praised the competitiveness Binney has brought to the lineup while also highlighting Harris' willingness to step into an important role despite being a freshman.
Another major storyline Friday came from the service line.
Texas clearly wants to make opponents uncomfortable with aggressive serving. Throughout the preseason, Stafford, Spears, Vander Wal, Anderson and Harris have shown the ability to put significant pressure on opposing serve-receive units.
Against Rice, however, that aggression produced mixed results.
Texas repeatedly gave away points with missed serves, particularly during its difficult third set. Without an official box score for the exhibition, a final total wasn't available, but the mistakes became one of the most noticeable issues of the night.
Despite the errors, Texas doesn't appear interested in becoming significantly more conservative.
Stafford said afterward that the coaching staff has encouraged players to remain aggressive rather than allowing mistakes to make them hesitant from the service line.
That approach could become an important part of Texas' identity this season. With the number of offensive weapons on the roster, forcing opponents into difficult passes can prevent them from consistently setting up their own attacks. Once the regular season begins, however, Texas will have to find the right balance between creating pressure and surrendering too many free points.
Anderson was one of several freshmen who continued to make an impression.
The freshman outside hitter didn't need much time to make herself noticeable after entering early in the match. Anderson provided Texas with another option at the pins, contributing offensively while also creating problems from the service line.
Her emergence adds another dimension to an already crowded group of Texas attackers.
Stafford remains one of the most accomplished players on the roster, while Spears and Vander Wal provide Texas with additional options. Anderson's early emergence gives head coach Jerritt Elliott another attacker capable of changing a set and could make the Longhorns' rotation even deeper.
Another intriguing performance came from one of the newest players on the roster.
Freshman middle blocker Camille Presley only recently joined the program after reclassifying from the 2027 recruiting class to 2026, but the Austin High product already showed why Texas was willing to bring her into the program a year early.
Presley received extended opportunities during the fourth and fifth sets and made an immediate defensive impact. The 6-foot-3 middle recorded an unofficial four blocks across two sets and delivered an important tip kill during the fourth-set battle with Rice.
It was an encouraging start for a 17-year-old who joined the Longhorns shortly before the exhibition.
Presley will still have to adjust to the speed and demands of college volleyball, but her size and defensive ability could make her difficult to keep off the court if she continues developing throughout the season.
She wasn't the only reserve middle to receive an opportunity. Mackenzie Collins also saw extended action late in the exhibition after joining the volleyball program shortly before summer practices. Collins also competes for Texas track and field and hadn't played competitive volleyball since her senior year at Shadow Creek High School in 2024.
The additional options give Elliott and his staff plenty to evaluate as Texas settles on its rotation.
Friday's performance ultimately demonstrated why Texas enters the season with championship expectations, but it also showed why the Longhorns remain a work in progress.
At their best, Texas overwhelmed Rice with its collection of attackers, aggressive serving and athleticism at the net. At other points, the Longhorns created problems for themselves.
The third set was the clearest example. Service mistakes piled up, Rice gained confidence and Texas struggled to regain control before dropping the set 25-19.
It wasn't the first time Texas experienced that type of drop during the preseason.
The Longhorns also won their opening two sets against Minnesota before dropping the third during their previous exhibition. Texas eventually took three of the four predetermined sets in that matchup.
Those stretches aren't necessarily alarming during preseason exhibitions, when coaches are experimenting with personnel and players are still developing chemistry. Eliminating extended lapses, however, will become increasingly important once Texas begins facing opponents with postseason ambitions.
The exhibitions are now finished.
Texas will turn its attention toward the regular season and a schedule that immediately gives Elliott's roster an opportunity to establish itself as one of the country's premier teams.
The Longhorns open their 2026 campaign against Arizona State on Aug. 22 at the AVCA First Serve event in Milwaukee.
Texas enters the season ranked No. 2 nationally and carrying the expectations that come with being one of college volleyball's premier programs.
Friday's exhibition provided plenty of reasons for optimism. Stafford remains a proven centerpiece. Texas has considerable depth on the outside. Binney and Harris have provided options at setter. Anderson is already contributing as a freshman, and Presley's rapid arrival gives the Longhorns another young player with significant upside.
Rice also provided Texas with an important reminder before the season begins.
Talent alone won't eliminate mistakes.
The Longhorns now have less than a week to clean up their service errors, continue building chemistry within their rotations and turn the flashes they showed throughout the preseason into consistent volleyball.
The next time Texas takes the floor, the result will officially count.
