Backrow BUILD UP

Texas is a program historically known for its offense and front row players. When thinking about volleyball Longhorn Legends of the Jerritt Elliott era, you think about Haley Eckerman, Destinee Hooker, Logan Eggleston, and Madisen Skinner at OH. Chiaka Ogbogu, Molly McCage, and Asjia O'Neal at MB. More often than not, this program is built on elite front row weapons that lead Texas to postseason success. Now this is not meant to be Cat McCoy or Zoe Fleck erasure, but Texas is not quite known for having elite defensive 'littles' the same way Nebraska or some other programs are. 

But that doesn't mean Texas can't put together an elite group. The coaching staff this offseason has made a huge investment in the back row, creating a talented and crowded room of liberos and defensive specialists. So let's take a closer look at these five players and how the depth chart may shake out this season.

Emma Halter - You know her. You love her. "Baby spice" enters her senior year for the Longhorns as the incumbent emotional leader of this position group and the team as a whole. She has been rock solid on the back line for Texas, playing consistently ever since her freshman year in 2022, winning two national championships along the way. She brings the energy, the passion, the leadership, and the championship experience that Texas needs anchoring the back row. I asked Emma if she thinks she has any competition for the jersey this fall with three new players coming in, and she responded "We all come in every single day working for the same exact thing, so there's always competition, there's competition every single year, so I just focus on doing all that I can and that's what I can do." And let me tell you, she isn't lying. No matter what she's asked to do on the court, she will be in the gym every day busting her butt for this team because that's the type of person she is.

Ramsey Gary - Ramsey transferred from Indiana this offseason, and was one of the highest-touted defensive players in the portal. She was in discussions with multiple high-caliber programs, but Texas was lucky enough to land her. Everyone loves Halter, and rightfully so, but it won't take long for everyone to have the same love for Ramsey this season. She has experience being the leader of a team, wearing the jersey for Indiana both her freshman and sophomore years, and it's not out of the question she could earn the Libero job in her junior season.

Anja Kujundzic - Anja is another player that comes to the Longhorns with lots of playing experience. She has spent the last two years as the Libero at VCU, and before that, played professional volleyball in her home country of Serbia. Between these three players combined, they enter the year with a whopping six years of experience at Libero (not just DS!). This wealth of experience means Texas has a lot of level-headed players that know how to perform in pressure situations. Additionally, Anja's international experience is something Coach Elliott values, both on and off the court. He talks about the importance of learning from people with different experiences and backgrounds, and the players have embraced that, learning Serbian words and phrases throughout the spring.

Callie Krueger - Callie enters the year as the only freshman in this position group, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'll sit on the back burner. Although she doesn't have the experience of the previous three names, she enters college as the #1 DS in the 2025 class on VBAdrenaline.com with a PPV of 265. And it's not all just hype. According to one Texas coach this spring, she has made that gap between herself and the more experienced players "a lot closer than expected." Callie is a candidate for playing time as a true freshman, and is a great player for Texas to develop long-term.

Reese Emerick - Reese returns for her second year at UT after appearing in 15 sets her freshman year. She was able to earn some minutes as a trustworthy replacement option or as a serving substitute, which feels like her most likely role for this season. She caught the unfortunate break of seeing three very talented players at her position join the roster this offseason, which is likely to keep her off the court. But her serve can be a real asset when it's on, so don't be surprised to see her subbed in for certain serving situations. She was utilized this way a few times throughout the spring season, and may see that continue this fall.

In many ways, defensive specialists are the unsung heroes of volleyball. Attackers get most of the fame and the accolades, but it's the back row that does the dirty work and is responsible for winning the serve/pass battle, which is so critical for being a consistent and competitive team. What stands out to me about this group is that all five of these players are insanely hard-working—getting extra reps both before and after practice, working nonstop with Assistant Coach Reily Buechler Canter, who takes charge of passing. This group is dedicated, experienced, and talented, so this is one to get excited about.