When the Texas Longhorns entered the arena to face Mississippi State, they knew they needed a result. The team had been in a rough patch, losing three consecutive games, including a tough 2-3 loss to crosstown rivals Texas A&M. They followed that up with two more five-set defeats against Missouri and Oklahoma.

This poor run of form raised eyebrows, and fans were getting restless. A win against Mississippi State was essential to get back in the win column, and for that, they needed a standout performance from one of their stars. Thankfully, the Longhorns still had Madisen Skinner. The senior showed on Wednesday why she’s considered one of the best in college volleyball.

The two-time All-American led her team to victory with an incredible season-high of 25 kills, as the Longhorns took the match 25-8, 25-15, 21-25, 25-17. Nine of those kills came in the fourth set, securing her team’s long-awaited return to winning ways. Alongside her, Averi Carlson delivered 45 assists as the main setter in the rotation.

Emma Halter’s 15 digs provided essential support, guiding the Longhorns to a strong victory, dropping only one set. The win must have been a relief for head coach Jerritt Elliott, who had been under considerable pressure after those three consecutive five-set losses. Now, with the team back on track, their fans finally have a reason to celebrate.

Throughout the whole span of their losing streak, many had been commenting on how Texas was not performing up to the standards that have been set throughout the years. Some fans even claimed that they were struggling to identify the system of the team. “We are almost never in system this season. The last two seasons we were in a system that seemed like 80-90% of the time. Made us unbeatable,” said one fan, commenting on an Instagram post uploaded on November 1st.

But now, the fans finally look happy after an energetic performance from the Longhorns. However, they felt that most of the credit for this belonged to the star player of their team, Madisen Skinner.

Texas fans heap praise on Madisen Skinner after brilliant display against Mississippi

There’s no denying that Madisen Skinner has become a fan-favorite for Texas Longhorns supporters, and if you needed proof, look no further than their victory over Mississippi State. “Have a freakin’ day, Madi Skinner. Let’s keep rolling! Nice win! 🙂‍↕️🙌🏾” cheered one fan. Madisen’s had Longhorns fans in her corner for a while, even before she wore the burnt orange, back when she was suiting up for Kentucky.

In the NCAA tournament final during her rookie season with the Wildcats, Madisen went head-to-head against Texas and recorded a stellar 19 kills, powering Kentucky to a decisive victory. That’s when Texas coaches and fans took notice, and they didn’t rest until she joined their squad two years later. It’s been quite a journey ever since. “Madi popped off,” said another fan, and this week, she really did.

With 25 kills, Madisen hit a new season high, outdoing the 22 she racked up in their nail-biter loss to Texas A&M. “MADI LEADING IN KILLS WHOS SURPRISED???” she put on a show, and it wasn’t just her kills that shined. Madisen’s two assists and her massive 27.5-point tally were also personal season highs, blowing past her previous best of 24 points from their win over Georgia. She’s proven she’s absolutely essential to the Longhorns’ lineup.

Fans are feeling it, too. “Once Madi gets going, ain’t nobody stopping her! Keep her lighting it up!” Madisen rarely disappoints. Even in Texas’ recent losses to Missouri and Oklahoma, she notched 18 and 17 kills, keeping her team in the game. But fans knew she could hit another level—and she delivered just when they needed her most.

Safe to say, she fulfilled those hopes. “Ayyyyyyyyyy….Maddie back 💯💯” After a rocky few games, Longhorns fans are back in high spirits, eager to keep the momentum rolling when they face Auburn on November 15. And no doubt, they’ll be counting on Madisen Skinner to lead the charge.