The Texas versus Texas A&M in-state rivalry existed as one of the greatest rivalries in college sports for nearly 100 years.
That was, until 2011, where the Aggies left to join the SEC, leaving feelings of heartache and abandonment from their former foes in the Big 12.
While some sports have done better at continuing the rivalry than others, both sides have blamed the other’s actions for the inability to fan the flames as bright as they once were.
For volleyball, the two sides haven’t faced off since the 2013 NCAA Tournament (a non-scheduled event), where Texas won 3-1 and would go on to make the NCAA Championship final 4.
In the time since that matchup, the Aggies, under head coach Laurie Corbelli, have grown into a national power, including winning last year’s SEC Conference Championship. The Longhorns, under Jerritt Elliott and his staff, are a perennial presence in the Final Four, and are also the defending Big 12 Conference Champions.
This year’s matchup will be in Austin, where Texas has a staggering 37-5 record against Texas A&M (as part of a 72-23 record overall). Texas enters the week ranked #3 in the AVCA Top 25 polls, while Texas A&M sits 16th. While both teams are safe best to qualify for the NCAA tournament, the result of this match will be a big early-season barometer and a significant data point for the Division I Women’s Volleyball committee when they select announce seedings on November 27th.
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