Freshman OH Spears, Vander Wal lead Longhorns to sweep No. 8 Wisconsin

After exacting revenge Friday night in its season opener by sweeping No. 12 Creighton, No. 5 Texas volleyball continues its hot season start with a sweep of No. 8 Wisconsin Sunday at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisc. 

Texas got off to an early lead after Wisconsin had tied the game 5-5. A pair of 6-2 and 5-2 Texas runs slowed Wisconsin’s momentum and led 16-9 after middle blocker Ayden Ames’ successful joust. But the Badgers’ 7-2 run took advantage of Texas miscommunications to close the Longhorns’ lead to two, 18-16. 

Wisconsin’s attack kept the Longhorns on their toes. With the chance to put the game away at 24-21, Wisconsin’s front row scored three straight to tie the game at 24. Seven set points later, Texas won the opening set 29-27 with a swing from Vander Wal. 

There were eight ties in the second set and Texas went up 17-16 on a Spears kill and block, then back-to-back points from Vander Wal and Spears got the Longhorns in the red zone. A Wisconsin tip and too many Texas touches made it 20-19, and a Wisconsin kill appeared to have tied the set 20-20, but Texas coach Jerritt Elliott successfully challenged the point to make it 21-19. A Vander Wal kill and a Rella Binney ace extended Texas’ lead to 23-20 and Ames’ block and a Vander Wal kill won the set.

Wisconsin jumped out to an early lead in the third set, but Texas took a 17-9 lead behind Stafford and a series of Badgers errors. Two jousts and a wide Wisconsin kill made it 20-9, and after a 5-2 Badgers run, Texas went up 23-14 on an Ames kill, followed by a wide Wisconsin swing and a Vander Wal kill to complete the sweep.

Texas will finish its three-road game stretch at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Rice.