This year served up a mixed bag of emotions for college volleyball fans. Teams like Penn State were happy with their sweet victories, but the Texas Longhorns experienced some rough rides. The Longhorns won two national championships in 2022 and 2023, but in the regional semifinals this year, they lost to Creighton University. And if that was not enough to hurt, the offseason had one more twist to offer—their roster began to change. On December 22, Lincoln Arneal went to X with some hot volleyball news, as he revealed that Jordyn Byrd has committed to transfer to Florida after not getting a chance to play in any game in her two years at Texas.

As if Jordyn’s departure wasn’t enough, another Texas Longhorns star followed Jordyn in leaving the team and the college portal! Lincoln Arneal hit X again, he said, “A Texas source confirms that setter Averi Carlson has entered the transfer portal. Baylor transfer became the starter down the stretch for the Horns’ Sweet 16 run.” And now, this decision by Averi Carlson to move on, left teammates like Madisen Skinner and others, writing their emotional goodbyes to prove how much she was appreciated.

Another Texas Longhorns star enters the portal!

Averi Carlson just hit us all with an emotional rollercoaster on Instagram! She shared a heartwarming montage filled with snapshots of her volleyball journey—some action-packed moments mid-game and others capturing those tight huddles with her teammates. In the caption, Averi poured her heart out, writing, “I am incredibly grateful for my time as a Longhorn and the unforgettable memories created alongside my amazing teammates. Volleyball has been a journey full of joy and growth, and I’m so thankful for the experiences it has brought me. As I step into a new chapter, I trust in the Lord’s guidance and I am excited for the path ahead.” Talk about leaving a legacy! Her teammates were quick to flood the comments with support, and honestly, same here!

Averi’s farewell post was not only touching fans but also brightening the emotions of her teammates! Her fellow Longhorn, Ayden Ames, came to the comment section to drop some heavy doses of love, she wrote, “Going to miss you so much, but I’m so happy we got to play together❤️.” Ayden, a Texas Longhorns freshman with a resume so stacked it’s basically a highlight reel, had already been making waves before even setting foot on campus.

Ayden clinched such titles as the 2023-24 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year and the 2023 Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year. Oh, and that’s not all, she guided Prosper High School to an unbelievable 37-10 season and a 6A state semifinals appearance in 2023, which marked the team’s first time since 2017. But Ayden wasn’t alone in showing love. Teammates across the board poured their hearts out, filling the comment section with good vibes, well wishes, and a whole lot of Longhorn pride.

Longhorns united for the emotional farewell!

Another familiar face from the Texas Longhorns squad was none other than Madisen Skinner herself and she chimed in the comment section to shower some love on Averi saying, “Love you long time aves🫶🏽💓.” And, to be quite frank, the aura was perfect! But here’s the thing—while Averi leaves for the transfer portal, Madisen is ending her own story with the Longhorns. Yes, this star outside hitter is a graduating senior who will undoubtedly be leaving behind a bright and shining example. It wasn’t only Averi who received a heartfelt message from Madisen; she also penned a heartfelt message to her fans, bidding college volleyball goodbye in the manner befitting her personality.

But the love fest did not end there! One more Longhorns standout, Ella Swindle, added her own message and said, “Grateful for the opportunity to grow alongside you. Cheering you on❤️.” This is perhaps the best time to say that the camaraderie in this squad is beyond reproach even as some players move on. But here is the tea—while many are going to the transfer portal, Ella is staying with the Texas Longhorns! Well yes, even though she barely played last season and was benched in the second half by Averi Carlson, Ella is more committed than ever. She was always on the bench clapping and now she wants to get in there and hustle and get her starting position back.

Averi Carlson’s exit from the Longhorns is hitting all the feels, and her teammates made sure she knows just how much she’ll be missed. Reese Emerick poured her heart into the comments, saying, “Going to miss you so much🥹 Wishing you nothing but the best❤️ Love youuuuuu,” while Jenna Wenaas chimed in with a sweet, “Love you 💓💓.” Their words? Proof that Averi wasn’t just a player; she was a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the court.

Let’s also not forget the rich resume that Averi had with her when she joined the team right from high school. She was a starting setter at Baylor in the years 2022 and 2023, and has achieved the following features; 2023 AVCA ALL-SOUTHWEST REGION FIRST TEAM, ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM as a sophomore, 2023 CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT and 2023 ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM. Yeah, the girl’s got talent—and a legacy her teammates won’t forget!