Longhorn standouts join an elite group of 30 student-athletes nationwide as Texas continues its tradition of producing national volleyball award contenders entering the 2026 NCAA season.
The announcement places both Longhorns among 30 of the nation's top collegiate volleyball players representing 16 Division I programs, underscoring Texas' continued status as one of the sport's elite programs. Compiled by the AVCA Division I Women's Volleyball Awards Committee, the preseason watch list serves as the opening stage in the organization's annual Player of the Year selection process.
For Texas, the recognition extends an impressive streak: the Longhorns have placed at least one player on every AVCA preseason watch list since the honor debuted in 2024.
Torrey Stafford Returns as One of College Volleyball's Elite Veterans
Senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford enters the 2026 campaign as one of the nation's most accomplished players.
- 516 kills
- 33 service aces
- 580.5 total points
- 4.69 kills per set
- .360 hitting percentage
Her dominant season also earned her AVCA Southwest Region Player of the Year honors while finishing as an AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist, placing her among the elite players in Division I volleyball
The 2026 preseason selection marks Stafford's third consecutive appearance on the AVCA preseason watch list and her second since transferring to Texas after previously earning recognition while playing at Pittsburgh.
With another productive season, Stafford is expected to remain one of the leading candidates for college volleyball's highest individual honor.
Cari Spears Builds on Historic Freshman Season
Joining Stafford is sophomore standout Cari Spears, whose debut season quickly established her among the nation's brightest young stars.
The Frisco, Texas, native enjoyed one of the most decorated freshman campaigns in Longhorn history, earning AVCA Third Team All-America recognition after finishing second on the team with:
- 358 kills
- 3.25 kills per set
- .295 hitting percentage
Spears also became the first freshman in Texas volleyball history to receive AVCA National Player of the Week honors while being named the AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year.
Her inclusion on the preseason watch list marks the first such recognition of her collegiate career and reflects expectations that she will play an even larger role in Texas' championship aspirations.
Texas Continues National Standard in Women's Volleyball
The Longhorns' consistent presence on the AVCA watch list reflects the program's sustained excellence under one of the nation's premier volleyball traditions.
Texas has now produced preseason Player of the Year candidates every year since the watch list was introduced, following Reagan Rutherford and Madisen Skinner, who represented the program on the inaugural 2024 list.
The continued recognition reinforces Texas' ability to recruit and develop elite talent while remaining a perennial national championship contender.
AVCA Player of the Year Race Begins
The preseason watch list serves as the first checkpoint in a months-long evaluation process that recognizes the nation's top Division I volleyball player.
- October: Midseason Watch List
- November: National Semifinalists
- December: Finalists
- December 18: Player of the Year announcement at the AVCA Awards Banquet in San Antonio, Texas
With Stafford returning as an established All-American and Spears emerging as one of college volleyball's fastest-rising stars, Texas enters the 2026 season with two legitimate candidates capable of bringing another national individual honor to Austin.
As expectations rise across the NCAA landscape, the Longhorns once again appear positioned to compete not only for conference and national championships but also for one of the sport's most prestigious individual awards.
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-- By Leticia Jacobs
© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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