Playing a team that had a losing record even after winning its conference, No. 3 Texas volleyball could’ve taken this match very lightly.

But the Longhorns played a very solid match as they swept the No. 16 seed Florida A&M Rattlers to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. It would be remiss not to mention the talent disparity, but the effort and activity were nonetheless very much present throughout the match.

“We were saying in the huddle, ‘more urgency,’” junior outside hitter Torrey Stafford said. “Even with that big of a gap, we don’t want to let off the gas.”

The Longhorns’ “Texas fight” showed most notably on a point in the first set when Texas was up 20-7. The Longhorns were fully out of system after a Florida A&M attack, but a series of diving digs from sophomore setter Rella Binney and junior libero Ramsey Gary kept the point alive. Texas would win the point with a combined block by sophomore middle blocker Ayden Ames and senior outside hitter Devin Kahahawai.

Senior libero Emma Halter’s hustle throughout the match was particularly impressive, and it even caused her to face-plant a time or two when lunging for a ball. She came into the match on a mission and registered 25 digs, the most in NCAA history in a three-set match. As a result, she moved to eighth in Texas’ all-time dig list.

“Earlier today in warm-ups, I was just like, ‘I’m kind of feeling it today. It’s tournament time,’” Halter said. “It’s tournament time…it’s live or die. So I’m trying to get every ball off the floor that I can.”

The effort at the net was spectacular, as blocking continues to be much improved from the regular season for the Longhorns. Texas had 9.5 total blocks throughout the match. Ames led with eight, while senior outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein, having received more playing time this match, followed Ames with four blocks.

For a team whose offense was typically the strength, the defensive effort was the star of the show in this match. The effort, both behind and at the net, will be paramount to advancing past the second round against No. 24 Penn State, particularly when considering they have one of the nation’s elite players in first-team All-American junior outside hitter Kennedy Martin.

But the Longhorns know they won’t be alone in their efforts tomorrow — the burnt orange faithful will be right with them.

“We’re at home, and it’s the biggest stage of the tournament,” Stafford said. “So we want to defend our home.”

The Longhorns will take on the Nittany Lions tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT for a chance to play in the Sweet 16.