NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt volleyball takes down No. 13 Texas in a five-set thriller on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. The Commodores' 3-2 victory (25-15, 19-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-12) marks their second consecutive win over a ranked opponent, as Carly Hendrickson's walk-off ace delivered a Senior Day finish to remember.
The No. 21 Commodores (19-3, 10-3 SEC) offense totaled 66 kills on a .386 hitting percentage. Reese Animashaun led the way with 18 kills (.286), followed by Maya Witherspoon with 17 kills and a career-high .483 hitting percentage. Rachel Ogunleye added 10 kills (.600), tying her career high in kills while recording a career-high two solo blocks. Samantha Wunsch tallied nine kills (.273).
On the defensive end, the Dores tallied 45 digs and seven total blocks. Hailee Mack paced the defense with 11 digs, while Wunsch added eight digs and Avery Scoggins chipped in five.
Wunsch set the tone for Vanderbilt in the opening set, recording a kill off an assist from Scoggins for the first point of the match. A Witherspoon service ace extended the Commodores' lead to 9-6, and a Hendrickson ace at 12-7 forced a Texas timeout. Wunsch posted another kill to make it 17-10, and Animashaun added a kill at 20-13. Wunsch closed out the set with her fifth kill of the frame as Vanderbilt took the opener, 25-15.
Wunsch opened the second set with another kill, but Texas responded with a 5-2 lead. The Longhorns used a strong serving stretch to build a 16-7 advantage. Vanderbilt worked to cut into the deficit, with kills from Dunlap and Witherspoon helping the Commodores pull within 19-12. A Scoggins service ace made it 22-18, but Texas claimed three of the next four points to take the set, 25-19.
Texas turned defense into offense in the third set, using a strong presence at the net to build a 10-4 lead. Two successful challenges helped the Longhorns maintain their advantage, and an Animashaun kill trimmed the deficit to 12-6. Texas continued to control the set and closed it out, 25-17.
A 3-0 run broke an early tie and gave Vanderbilt a 9-6 lead in the fourth set. The teams traded points before the Commodores created separation with a 3-0 stretch, including back-to-back Scoggins service aces, to move ahead 10-6. Texas battled back, but Vanderbilt maintained its advantage. Witherspoon added consecutive kills to help extend the lead to 22-19, and Dunlap's kill made it 23-20. A Texas attack error gave Vanderbilt set point before a service error sealed the 25-21 win and forced a fifth set.
The teams traded points to 4-4 in the deciding set before Vanderbilt used a pair of blocks from Ogunleye, including one assisted by Wunsch, to take a 7-5 lead. The Commodores maintained their advantage, with a Dunlap kill extending the lead to 12-10. Witherspoon added a service ace to put Vanderbilt ahead 13-10, but Texas answered with two points to pull within 13-12. Dunlap delivered another kill to give the Dores match point, and Hendrickson followed with a service ace to secure the 15-12 victory. Texas unsuccessfully challenged the final point, and the call stood.
Vandy will hit the road for its final two regular-season games at Arkansas and Oklahoma on Friday and Sunday.