Texas Volleyball Evaluating Options in the Transfer Portal

Unfortunately, the college volleyball calendar allows no time for rest because the NCAA transfer portal is already in full swing. The morning after the Longhorns' Elite Eight exit, the coaching staff was already evaluating the state of the program and making plans towards next season. 

Based on their post-season meetings, the coaching staff does not expect any more Longhorns to enter the portal, though you never know for sure. At the moment, there are 14 players slated to be on the spring roster, with senior Kenna Miller also on the books until she graduates in May. That leaves three available spots in spring and four in summer/fall for transfers should the Horns decide to use them.

Overall though, Texas doesn't seem to have any innate need to fill those slots and is pretty fired up about the players they already have. The team feels confident in their ability to build their program from recruitment without relying on the portal, and any potential transfers would need to mesh with team culture.

Lack of Depth at the Middle

Notably, there are only two remaining middles on the Longhorns' roster in Nya Bunton and Taylor Harvey. The coaching staff has long prioritized versatile athletes and says there are a variety of players that could play middle if necessary. For example, OPP Addy Gaido practiced out of the middle regularly throughout her redshirt year. 

Additionally, the market for middles is thin this cycle, with many teams in need and some of the top options already off the board. Still, I would expect that the Horns bring in another MB-by-trade if nothing more than for depth. Some of the best available options include Pitt's Ryla Jones, Wisconsin's Tosia Serafinowska, and Kansas' Aurora Papac. 

Already Golden (or Diamond) at Setter

Texas appears unlikely to pursue any setters at the moment given the elite setting room they already have. With Ella Swindle and Rella Binney returning as well as bringing in the #1 freshman setter in the country, Diamond-level prospect Genevieve Harris, there's no strong need to grab someone new. Offensive Coordinator Ben Josephson says he's excited to see how the team can best use these three setters throughout the spring.

What Comes Next

As the portal window unfolds, Texas is expected to move with intention rather than urgency. With a strong core returning and internal development still the program’s main goal, any additions would be targeted— players who bolster depth or address a specific need without disrupting the culture already in place. Longhorns fans will still be keeping an eye on every move as the roster comes into focus for the season ahead.