Three rising high-school juniors announced their commitment to Texas volleyball over the weekend, continuing the legacy of one of the nation’s best teams.
Texas has been seeking its next captain of the defense, and the Longhorns have already had good experience with midwestern liberos named Emma.
Junior libero Emma Halter, from Indianapolis, Indiana, has been a starter for the Longhorns since her freshman year and wore the black jersey as a sophomore. When Halter graduates from the McCombs School of Business in 2026, a libero of the same name will be coming in.
Emma Cugino comes from Columbus, Ohio, and committed to join the Longhorns in the fall of that year on Sunday.
Joining Cugino is Henley Anderson, a 6-foot-3-inch outside hitter from Dripping Springs who is staying close to home. Anderson plays for Austin Performance Volleyball and Dripping Springs High School.
“What Henley is doing is unheard of,” Anderson’s coach Michael Kane said to the Austin-American Statesman. “She is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of kid who is very humble and coachable. How is it possible she’s only 15 and could play for most colleges right now if not start? She has such a high-level skill set. How good is she? It’s going to be scary.”
Anderson, named to the MaxPreps All-American Second Team in 2023, announced her commitment the day before Cugino and the third of this trio of commits, Genevieve Harris. Harris was a top recruit for Wisconsin before choosing Texas.
The setter from North Carolina will be joining her future teammate, Anderson, in Team USA’s Under-19 team in July for the Continental Championship.
“Thank you to Coach Elliott, Coach Sullivan and Coach Hunt for believing in me and presenting me with this amazing opportunity,” Harris wrote in her announcement post. “Without all the support, I would not be close to where I am now.”
Current and former Longhorn volleyball stars, including former libero Zoe Fleck, senior outside hitter Jenna Wenaas and sophomore setter Ella Swindle, used their social media accounts to congratulate and welcome each commit.
It’s safe to say that even when talent and experience leave the Forty Acres, head coach Jerritt Elliott will always find ways to bring in more.
