The “happiest” Longhorns, unbeaten and No. 1, are having a ball

If you’re happy and you know it, spike a ball … If you’re happy and you know it, dig a ball … 

OK, that might be a bit much, but watching Texas playing volleyball and talking to the Longhorns, you can see that they’re pretty happy.

And why not? The unbeaten No. 1 Longhorns are hitting on all cylinders as the most anticipated match of the Big 12 season takes place Saturday when Texas plays at No. 18 Baylor.

“I’m having so much fun,” UCLA transfer Zoe Fleck said. “I’ve never had this much fun playing volleyball before.”

Cal transfer Bella Bergmark had the happiest smile when she said the same thing.

Madisen Skinner, now a third-year player who starred at Kentucky when the Wildcats won the spring 2021 NCAA title, said simply, “I need a change of pace and something different and this is the place for me and this is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

The 6-foot-2 Skinner has led Texas in kills the past two matches. She had 15 kills against TCU a week ago Wednesday, nine in the first set, and hit .480. This Wednesday, in a sweep of Kansas State, she had 14 more kills. 

“It’s been awesome. Everyone here is great. We have the best support staff, these are some of my best friends, and the transition has been easier than I thought it would be. 

“Obviously I moved my whole life, but I’m closer to home, can see my whole family, so it’s been a great move.”

On the court, as well. While 2021 VolleyballMag.com national player of the year Logan Eggleston leads Texas in kills with 182 (4.55/set) and aces (22), Skinner, who has moved comfortably into the other outside-hitter slot, is next with 141 (3.71) and she’s hitting .317. Last season she led Kentucky with 389 kills and hit .282, a year after her old sister, Avery, transferred to Baylor after winning the NCAA title.

The Skinners are from the Houston suburb of Katy, Texas. Their father, Brian, was a star basketball player at Baylor before his 14-season NBA career.

Texas went into this season as the prohibitive favorite and then in the pre-conference season opened with back-to-back wins at Ohio, beat Minnesota, swept at Stanford and beat Houston. And in the Big 12, the Longhorns had to pull off a reverse sweep at Kansas, but have swept the rest of their conference matches.

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