Trick, or Treat? What's in Store for the Horns on Halloween

The Texas Longhorns have clearly been very successful up to this point in the season. You don't need me to regurgitate all the stats about the undefeated record and the quality of opponents that Texas has beaten. If you're not a Texas fan, you hear about those things and roll your eyes. But what's really been impressive about this team is the consistency and how they've been able to minimize the mental lapses. 

The grind through the middle of the season is where a lot of teams can make the mistake of relaxing a little too much and letting some upsets occur. Texas has certainly fallen victim to this a few times in the past. Remember the 2022 team? The one that was the #1 team in the country heading into the tournament and bulldozed their way to a national championship? Their one loss of the whole season was on October 19th to an unranked Iowa State. And last year, the three-game slide for the Horns started on October 23rd. This year, Texas made it through that mid-October phase and came out still undefeated.

Now, unofficially, the final third of the season begins as Texas has some tough opponents on the schedule for the rest of their season. It all starts with a rivalry battle against #9 Texas A&M on Halloween night as the Longhorns will hope to avoid any spookiness happening in College Station. It's a matchup that is sure to draw eyes from across the nation. A top-10 matchup with an added rivalry flare, surely this game is on a more prominent channel than the SEC network? Right?? Right?!? Seriously, Texas has 5 regular season games on ESPN channels this season and this isn't one of them?

But I digress. Let's talk volleyball. The Aggies rely on their fearless leader, Logan Lednicky who they will go to early and often. As a lefty opposite, A&M is one of the few teams in the country with an opposite that matches up with Texas, and it'll be fun to watch the battle between her and Cari Spears. It's super important that Texas is able to shut her down, and here's why: Lednicky is hitting a blistering .321 on the season. But in A&M's three losses this season, she hit .190, .159, and .220. She has the ability to take over a match, and the Horns cannot let that happen. So Torrey, Abby, and the middles are busy in the scouting report learning how to shut that down.

The other player to watch out for is the middle Ifenna Cos-Okpalla. Presenting more of a defensive threat, she more than doubles the number of blocks by any of her teammates this season. If the passing is consistent and Ella can run a balanced offense, Texas should still be able to run smoothly on its attacks.

This weekend has huge implications for SEC title contention as well. If Texas wants to claim its first ever SEC regular season title, it will need to win at least one of the two upcoming matches and possibly both. A loss against A&M would tie the teams at 10-1 in SEC play, with Kentucky still undefeated ahead of both. A loss against Kentucky would ensure the Wildcats have sole possession of the lead and would control their destiny towards a 9th consecutive SEC title. As a reminder, Kentucky beat A&M earlier this season, and it's a three horse race to the finish line.

But for now, the focus is to take care of business in College Station. The scene in Reed Arena on Halloween night should be nothing short of electric. A&M has continued their upwards trend, but they’re still looking for that marquee win to prove their rise is real. There would be no sweeter way to make that statement than by taking down the school they devoted half of the Aggie War Hymn to.

Spooky things can happen in haunted College Station on a chilly All Hallows' Eve, and the Aggies will be hungry to bring a good scare to Longhorn fans. But as long as Texas shows the same mental poise they've shown all season long, they should be able to walk out unscathed. Last season, the Aggies came into the Horns house and got away with a win, and now it's time for Texas to return the favor so the ghost of Jamie Morrison no longer lingers in Gregory gym.