Texas volleyball, ranked No. 2 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, continued its grueling nonconference schedule with a matchup against No. 4 Louisville Wednesday in Fort Worth. Just like they did against Stanford Sunday at Moody Center, the Longhorns rallied for a five-set win.
Austin, TX
Replay, highlights: No. 2 Texas volleyball beats No. 4 Louisville in 5 sets
The Texas Longhorns celebrate a score during the match against Stanford at the Moody Canter on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-StatesmanTorrey Stafford paced the Longhorns (5-0) with 20 kills and 18 digs while freshman phenom fired a career-high 16 kills. Freshman Abby Vander Wal added 14 kills, including the game-winner in the 23-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 16-14 victory. Ella Swindle tallied 37 assists.
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Emma Halter (17 digs, eight assists), Rella Binney (10 digs, seven assists) and Ramsey Gary (12 digs, five assists) anchored a ferocious backrow effort that helped the Longhorns overcome 35 attacking errors, the most in at least 15 years for Texas.
Peyton Petersen paced Louisville (4-1) with 18 kills.
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Read below for a replay and highlights from Texas volleyball’s win over Louisville.
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Texas Longhorns outside hitter Cari Spears (23) spikes the ball during the match against Stanford at the Moody Canter on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Austin.
Three days after rallying from a five-point deficit in the fifth set against Stanford, Texas does it again. The Longhorns fend off a match point and come back from an 11-6 deficit in the fifth set and win it on a kill by freshman Abby Vander Wal.
The Longhorns are on a 6-1 run, and Louisville takes its final timeout. Another five-set thriller for No. 2 Texas. An amazing defensive sequence by Rella Binney and Ramsey Gary a few points ago gave the Longhorns the juice they needed.
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Texas has 33 attacking errors compared to 58 kills, which is the most errors by a Texas squad in at least 15 years. The Longhorns will have to clean things up quick to pull off another rally.
The Longhorns are playing in their second consecutive five-setter after edging Stanford Sunday at Moody Center, but Louisville is the team looking most comfortable in a taut fifth set. Seventeen blocks for Louisville, and the Cardinals are hitting .400 this set compared to .132 for Texas.
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Freshman Cari Spears has a career-high 15 kills for Texas, and you never know where she’ll pop up in attack. Pin, back row, middle, she’s firing from everywhere. Torrey Stafford adds 17 digs and 16 kills, including a set-winning rocket. Match tied at 2-2.
Texas is trying to close strong, but Louisville coach Dan Meske is trying to win a fourth challenge on a tip call. Louisville leads 2-1.
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A set of runs, this. Louisville reeled off a 7-0 spurt to erase a 4-0 Texas lead, but the Longhorns respond with an 8-1 run capped by Ayden Ames winning a joust. Ames has five total blocks for Texas. Louisville leads 2-1.
The Cardinals have set a season-high 14 blocks, and they keep answering every Texas challenge – literally, too, since Louisville has won three coach’s challenges. They’re on a 7-0 run. Louisville leads 2-1.
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A solo block and a block assist from Texas middle Nya Bunton, and the Longhorns jump out to a quick start in a do-or-die set. Timeout, Louisville. Louisville leads 2-1.
A tight replay goes Louisville’s way, and the Cardinals are one set away from handing Texas its first loss. Peyton Petersen of Louisville and Torrey Stafford of Texas are tied for match-high honors with 13 kills, but the Cardinals have committed five fewer attacking errors in a high-error match. Louisville leads 2-1.
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The Cardinals are answering any questions about their mettle after an easy opening schedule, but the Longhorns have just fended off three set points. The two teams are tied at 1-1.
Peyton Petersen slices her 13th kill down the left sideline for Louisville, and the Cardinals are on a 5-0 run. Timeout, Texas coach Jerritt Elliott. The two teams are tied at 1-1.
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An alley-oop dunk on a fast break. A 6-4-3 double play. A back-row attack, like Cari Spears just did for her ninth kill. These are elegant sports things. The two teams are tied at 1-1.
A pair of one-armed stabs by Torrey Stafford keeps a rally alive, and it leads to a rare hitting error by Louisville. High-level volleyball in Cowtown, Panther City, Funky Town, whatever you want to call Fort Worth. The two teams are tied at 1-1.
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Back-to-back blocks from Louisville, and the Cardinals are trying to claim grab their first lead of the third set. The two teams are tied at 1-1.
Louisville closes to within 22-16, but a big block from Ella Swindle and five kills in the set from Torrey Stafford help Texas rebound from dropping its first opening set of the season. We’re even at 1-1.
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Texas is firing on all cylinders right now. Torrey Stafford is up to a match-high nine kills, Devin Kahahawai keeps playing solid minutes off the bench, and the Longhorn block is starting to slow Louisville go-to attacker Peyton Petersen, who has just two of her nine kills 9 kills this set. Louisville leads 1-0.
Louisville has used its last timeout of the set as the Longhorns stay hot. Cari Spears and Torrey Stafford are leading the onslaught with seven and six kills, respectively. Spears also has three blocks, and Nya Bunton has four blocks for the Longhorns.
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Set two: Texas 8, Louisville 3
Texas doesn’t want another slow start. Freshman OH Cari Spears is up to seven kills, including a thunderous shot off Louisville’s Hannah Kenny, and classmate Abby Vander Wal is making a big impact defensively at the net. Louisville leads 1-0.
The Cardinals clamp down defensively in the last few points and win the set on a tip by Nayelis Cabello. Texas was out of position in the scramble, and Louisville makes them pay.
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Texas falls behind 22-20, but Torrey Stafford caps a 3-0 spurt with her fifth kill down the line and Louisville takes a timeout.
Set one: Texas 19, Louisville 18
Jerritt Elliott has been rotating in Rella Binney at the service line and Devin Kahahawai at the net late in sets, and it again pays off. Binney serves two quick points and Texas takes the lead on a Abby Vander Wal.
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Set one: Texas 15, Louisville 14
Louisville is playing frenetic defense and extending every rally, but Texas OH Torrey Stafford is heating up with three kills and an ace.
Texas has worked its way back into the match after a brutal start behind freshman Cari Spears, who has two kills and a block. Texas setter Ella Swindle wins a joust at the net, and we’re tied pending a Louisville challenge.
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This is Louisville’s first meeting with a ranked team this season, but the Cardinals seem unphased in their first meeting with Texas since getting swept by the Longhorns in the 2022 national championship team. Timeout, Texas. Coach Jerritt Elliott wants to take a breath.
Texas will start setter Ella Swindle, outside hitter Cari Spears, outside hitter Torrey Stafford, libero Emma Halter, middle blocker Ayden Ames, middle blocker Nya Bunton and defensive specialist Ramsey Gary. Louisville will start Kamden Schrand, Chloe Chicoine, Nayelis Cabello, Hanna Sherman, Cara Cresse and Kalyssa Blackshear.
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Since No. 7 Pittsburgh swept No. 3 Kentucky in the first game of the Shriners Children’s Showdown at the Net in Fort Worth, the start time between Texas and Louisville has been moved up to 7:53 p.m. CT.
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Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
AUSTIN, Texas — With heavy rain expected across parts of Central Texas this week and flooding top of mind, the city of Austin is proposing to put more money toward flood mitigation improvements in next year’s budget.
The proposal would invest in new flood infrastructure, add staff, and help move flood mitigation projects forward, according to city leaders. Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter said the investments are aimed at keeping the city prepared for future flooding.
Residents who live near waterways say they have seen how quickly conditions can change. David Haderspeck, who lives near Shoal Creek, said the creek “fills up pretty fast” and “gets a lot higher than you’d expect.” He said he has watched the water rise dramatically after rain.
“I’ve seen it come up probably 10 to 15 feet to the ordinary high-water mark,” he said.
This week, parts of Central Texas, including the Hill Country, are expected to get heavy downpours. While Austin is not expecting the same impacts as parts of the Hill Country, leaders said the city is using this year’s budget planning to continue investing in flood safety.
Alter said the city has the expertise to address flooding risks but needs to follow through on projects.
ALSO| Central Texas urged to prepare as heavy rainfall sits in forecast over next two days
“We have the experts. We just have to put the plans into practice, and that’s what we’re doing in this budget,” he said.
Under the budget proposal, the city would provide about $134.5 million for the Drainage Utility Fund, which helps pay for flood mitigation, drainage infrastructure and watershed protection efforts.
Alter said the proposal would shift more of the funding balance toward building new infrastructure.
“What we’re going to do is shift that balance a little bit more to building new infrastructure so that when we do have large flooding events, we’ve got that infrastructure in place to keep people safe,” he said.
The proposal also adds staff and invests in both new and existing flood mitigation projects across the city.
Asked whether the proposed investments would be enough moving forward, Alter said, “I do…I think we’re doing the right thing and just making sure that our residents have the infrastructure to stay safe.”
Alter said heavy rain cannot be prevented, but the city’s goal is to have infrastructure in place to help keep people safe when it happens.
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