The score was 21-20, and Texas needed one more point to beat TCU.
Drops of rain began to fall, and wind whipped sand against redshirt junior blocker Ava Patton as she readied herself for TCU’s attack. Rising high above the net, Patton met and blocked the Horned Frogs at the net to call the game on Oct. 24.
“In those moments, it’s really about staying connected to your partner and staying focused on your game plan, but also not thinking too much and realizing it’s one pass, one play at a time,” Ava said. “It is intense, so it takes a lot of mental training and mental toughness to not freak out or predetermine what you’re going to do.”
Amidst a weekend for Texas to measure itself against the defending national champions, this three-set thriller was an opportunity for Ava, who spent her freshman season at TCU, to face off against her former team.
“It’s intense playing against people that you know, but it’s always really good competition (playing) against people that you know and you respect,” Ava said.
When Ava was a high school recruit, Texas had yet to boast a women’s beach volleyball program. So the Austinite could not even consider staying home to play collegiate beach volleyball.
However, by the end of Ava’s freshman year, the landscape had changed. After announcing beach volleyball as a varsity sport in 2022, Texas was preparing to play its inaugural season in 2023. According to Ava, within 24 hours of receiving an offer from Texas, she made the decision to transfer.
“Knowing everything Texas can do for you, along with athletics, school-wise and with resources and alumni, I was extremely excited and happy to go here,” Ava said. “Although I did love my time at TCU, (going to Texas) is always something I’ve been excited for and wished I could do.”
Representing Texas runs in the Patton family. Ava’s father, James Patton, aided Texas football in bringing home the 1990 Southwest Conference Championship. Now, Ava plays alongside her sister, junior Carys Patton.
“When I saw that Ava was in the transfer portal along with many other Texans, it was a no-brainer to build that original group with people who were bleeding burnt orange,” head coach Stein Metzger said.
Hired in May 2023, Metzger initially recruited 10 athletes, including Ava, whom he refers to as the “Trailblazers.” Since then, the roster size has doubled. For Metzger, more athletes mean more possible pairings.
“Ava is really easy to play with,” Metzger said. “It’s easy to put her with just about anybody, as long as the Xs and Os match up. … She certainly is very versatile in that sense.”
However, more athletes also means more competition for roster spots. As the 2026 season closes in, Metzger must finalize a 10-athlete roster. According to Metzger, Ava has taken steps to claim a spot in the final lineup.
“She’s been very dedicated, and I would say the strength for her has been consistency,” Metzger said. “She continues to show up every day in practice and (wants) to do well. … She’s a dynamic athlete, she watches video and she’s very dedicated to getting better on a daily basis.”
