After earning applause from the Big 12, Madisen Skinner helps No. 1 Texas sweep TCU

Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read
Texas outside hitter Madisen Skinner spikes the ball during Wednesday night's sweep of TCU at Gregory Gym. The reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week led the Longhorns with 15 kills. "For the last two matches, Madi has really found a groove," UT coach Jerritt Elliott said.
Texas outside hitter Madisen Skinner spikes the ball during Wednesday night's sweep of TCU at Gregory Gym. The reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week led the Longhorns with 15 kills. "For the last two matches, Madi has really found a groove," UT coach Jerritt Elliott said.

Led by Madisen Skinner's 15 kills, Texas rolled to a 25-20, 25-15, 25-17 sweep Wednesday night over TCU at Gregory Gym.

With the win in front of an announced crowd of 4,369, the top-ranked Longhorns (12-0, 4-0 Big 12) remain one of the few undefeated teams left among the 334 Division I volleyball programs; No. 23 Central Florida and unranked Towson haven't lost yet, either. Texas received all 64 first-place votes in this week's AVCA poll.

"I think we don't really pay much attention to the rankings, honestly, because that can fluctuate so much. We've just got to continue to play our game and do the work we need to do," Skinner said. "I think we've just been trying to emphasize that and no matter what we're ranked, if it's 1 or if it's 50, we're still going to give the same effort."

TCU scored the first three points of Wednesday night's match, but the Longhorns weren't down for long. Behind nine kills from Skinner, Texas claimed a five-point victory in the opening set.

The sophomore outside hitter didn't start, but she immediately made an impact. Skinner sniped four straight kills that sparked a 7-0 run in which Skinner was responsible for five points. With Asjia O'Neal on the service line during that scoring spurt, Texas turned a 7-4 deficit into an 11-7 advantage.

"I just came out a little hot," Skinner said. "I had a couple energy chews right before and was ready to rock."

Skinner recorded a .480 hitting percentage against the Horned Frogs. She has had at least 15 kills in three of UT's four conference matches.

Wednesday's performance came just three days after she posted 19 kills and a .529 hitting percentage in front of a nationally-televised audience and Texas Tech's school-record crowd of 6,037. She was named the Big 12's offensive player of the week Tuesday.

It was the first time that Skinner, a transfer from Kentucky, has been recognized by the Big 12. Last season, Skinner's older sister was an all-conference honoree and a one-time winner of the Big 12's weekly offensive honor while playing at Baylor. Both Avery and Madisen Skinner played for a Kentucky team that beat Texas in 2021 for the NCAA title.

"For the last two matches, Madi has really found a groove," UT coach Jerritt Elliott said.

Texas never trailed in the second set. And the only deficit it faced in the final set was when TCU went up early by a 2-1 score.

Texas scored eight of the third set's first 11 points, and Elliott then felt comfortable with giving All-American outside hitter Logan Eggleston the rest of the night off. Melanie Parra subbed in for her and closed out the match with three kills and three digs.

Notes: Eggleston had nine kills but hit just .194. She also didn't record any service aces and remains two aces shy of breaking Mira Topic's school record of 185. ... TCU (7-8, 2-2 Big 12) was led by Audrey Nalls' 16 kills. All-time, the Horned Frogs are 1-23 against Texas. ... Texas is off until a home match against Kansas State next Wednesday. Elliott said that all but two of his players plan on using their time off this weekend to attend the Red River Showdown in Dallas.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Madisen Skinner helps Texas volleyball sweep visiting TCU