AUSTIN, Texas – The sand is shifting in Texas’ favor. The University of Texas beach volleyball team is hitting its stride midway through the season, currently ranked No. 4 nationally with a 13-5 record. This isn’t just a good run for the Longhorns; it’s a testament to a program built from the ground up, and a signal that Texas is rapidly becoming a force in collegiate beach volleyball. The team’s success is fueled by veteran leadership and a willingness to experiment, all while aiming to capitalize on a challenging stretch of home games.
For redshirt senior Katie Hashman, this season carries particular weight. “Joining this program in its first year, and now seeing how far we’ve come from being unranked to now being ranked in the top five,” Hashman said, reflecting on the program’s evolution. “It gives me extra motivation to try to end on a good note.” That motivation is translating to strong performances, particularly at the top of the lineup.
Building a Foundation of Consistency
Hashman and sophomore Brecht Piersma have become a dominant duo, consistently anchoring the Longhorns on court one. Their partnership has yielded key victories against formidable opponents like Stanford and Southern California, establishing them as a team to watch. According to the official Texas Athletics website, the Longhorns’ beach volleyball program began in 2014 , and the climb to the top five has been deliberate.
But the success isn’t solely reliant on one pairing. Freshmen sisters Anna and Kacka Pavelkova, along with the senior-freshman combination of Emma Grace Robertson and Savannah Thomas, are likewise contributing significantly to the team’s overall record. This depth allows head coach Stein Metzger the flexibility to experiment with different lineups, a strategy he’s actively employing.
The Search for the Perfect Fit
“We’re still trying to figure out what some of our perfect fits are,” Metzger explained. “So you’ll witness some new matchups this weekend, and you’ll see some new faces secure in there and play, and maybe even some different positions.” This experimentation was evident at the recent Death Volley Invitational, where a new pairing of Robertson and freshman Lily Davis secured wins in all four of their matches. The willingness to adjust and explore different combinations highlights the team’s commitment to finding the most effective strategies.
Beyond simply shuffling personnel, the Longhorns are focused on refining fundamental skills. Hashman emphasized the importance of setting, stating, “We’re really trying to improve our setting because that’s a very technical skill and a high-level skill. So we know that if You can just set a little bit better, we will be easily beating Stanford next time, instead of losing 2-3.” This attention to detail underscores the team’s dedication to continuous improvement.
Facing the Nation’s Best
Despite their impressive record, Texas hasn’t yet been able to overcome the top two teams in the nation: No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Stanford. These programs represent the pinnacle of collegiate beach volleyball, and defeating them will be a significant hurdle. However, the Longhorns are embracing the challenge, and they’ll have the opportunity to test themselves against both UCLA and Stanford – as well as No. 5 USC – at the upcoming Texas Invitational.
The Texas Invitational marks the Longhorns’ first home competition of the season, and Metzger believes playing in front of a home crowd will be a significant advantage. “They take sports differently here, and I really want to create a platform for our student athletes to play in front of big crowds and have that perceive,” he said. “So that’s a huge goal for us. We know that we’ve got to do our part. We’ve got to do some more winning. So we’re working on that.” The team will follow up the Texas Invitational with the Longhorn Showdown, continuing their homestand.
The schedule is undeniably tough, with two of their four opponents at the Texas Invitational ranked higher than the Longhorns. But the team views this as an opportunity to prove their mettle and solidify their position among the nation’s elite. The ability to perform under pressure, and to leverage the energy of a home crowd, will be crucial to their success.
Texas’ ascent in the beach volleyball world isn’t just about wins and losses; it’s about building a program with a strong foundation, a commitment to improvement, and a growing sense of momentum. As they navigate a challenging schedule and continue to refine their lineups, the Longhorns are poised to make a significant impact on the sport.
The Longhorns will continue their season at the Texas Invitational, beginning Friday, March 29th. Fans can find the full schedule and ticket information on the Texas Athletics website.
What do you suppose about the Longhorns’ chances this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow beach volleyball fans!
