“Headed home with a win,” read the captions of the posts by Texas Longhorns X handle. This was a statement that Texas volleyball fans have been yearning to hear since October 23. After going on a three-match losing streak, Madisen Skinner and Emma Halter led the defending champions to a win against Mississippi State.

The four-time NCAA champions dropped only one set in their favorable display against. Madisen Skinner put on an inspiring performance, achieving a new season high of 25 kills to help the Longhorns grab the victory. Libero Emma Halter acted as the perfect partner for Skinner, with service aces, six curial assists, and 15 digs to keep Texas in the lead.

“Took care of business,” wrote the official Texas Longhorns X handle after securing the long-awaited win. Texas volleyball cruised through the first two sets, beating Mississippi State 25-8 and 25-15. The strong opening set firmly swung the momentum in favor of Skinner and the girls. However, Mississippi did manage to claw back the third set.

They took an early lead and although Texas chipped away at the lead, they ultimately lost the set 21-25. However, the Longhorns didn’t let their opponents mount a comeback, sealing the deal in set four with a 25-17 scoreline. The much-awaited victory came after the defending national champions went on a nine-match win streak between September 18 and October 20.

However, their three-match skid began after losing 3-2 against state rivals Texas A&M. The flowing matches against Missouri and Oklahoma ended with similarly heartbreaking 3-2 losses. During this period, the team dropped from No. 7 to No. 15. Now, back on the winning side, the Texas volleyball team will look to restart their win streak.

After all, Jerritt Elliott’s Texas team is looking to pull off a historic NCAA hat trick. After winning the national title consecutively in 2022 and 2023. However, despite the recent inconsistency from the four-time NCAA champions, Maiden Skinner has continued to shine for Texas.

Madisen Skinner’s consistency even in the face of defeat

Despite the Longhorns falling to Texas AM on October 23, Skinner led a tenacious effort that saw the Longhorns win two sets. The two-time All-American hit a then-season-high 22 kills in the match against their arch-rivals. Skinner made an even bigger contribution during their November 1 loss against Missouri. She led the team stats with 18 kills, 12 digs, and three aces.

The story was no different during their most recent defeat at the hands of Oklahoma. Skinner hit just one less kill and dig compared to the previous match against Missouri and landed her second straight double-double. Despite the disappointment, the Texas volleyball star proved her worth in all three matches.

No wonder Coach Elliott praised the 2023 Player of the Year in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports. “She kind of has that wow factor when you come in… Like the rim is at 10 feet. She’s touching almost 11 feet,” the coach said about Skinner’s athleticism. Besides her exceptional individual skills, the 23-year-old also excels in leading from the front and communicating with the team.

“Not only is she a great volleyball player, but she’s a great teammate,” said the three-time national title-winning coach. Now with the losing streak behind them, Texas Volleyball will look to carve out a winning path to title contention, and the 56-year-old hopes that Madisen Skinner will be the center leading the charge.