Sophomore outside hitter Addy Gaido has patiently waited her turn to see the court in a Texas jersey. Gaido did not appear in any matches her freshman year. However, this season she has taken a bigger role for No. 16 Texas volleyball.
Through her offensive playmaking, blocking and consistency, Gaido has helped the Longhorns throughout Southeastern Conference play and will be a key part of a potential postseason run.
Early in the season, Gaido debuted against the TCU Horned Frogs on Aug. 29 at the Players Era Showcase, where she recorded one kill. Gaido played in two other matches in September, then returned to the bench until the team’s fifth SEC match against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Oct. 9.
In that match, the right side was sophomore Cari Spears, who has been an offensive leader for the team. Spears struggled to produce, recording four kills and hitting .077. To help Spears, Gaido subbed in during the second set and played the rest of the night, finishing with 12 kills and one error. She also recorded a .579 hitting percentage.
“Addy has gotten better and started really producing in our practice gym, and (freshman setter Genevieve Harris) has gotten a lot better,” head coach Jerritt Elliot said.
Since that matchup, Gaido has seen more of the court. Throughout the rest of SEC play, she has become a part of the Longhorns’ 6-2 rotation. Gaido subs in along with the second setter, either Harris or senior setter Ella Swindle.
“The 6-2 is working out for us,” senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford said. “I feel like we have a bigger block up when our setters are coming back row, and then Addy coming in, Cari … it’s a big block for us.”
The rotation has given the team an advantage, allowing a taller blocker to face the opponent’s outside hitter. Before Gaido was integrated into the rotation, junior setter Rella Binney ran the 5-1 rotation and would have to block in the front row.
“Addy has been doing such a great job on the right side,” Stafford said. “She offers us a bigger block than the 5-1 does.”
With Gaido’s height at 6-foot-4, she has an advantage over Binney at 5-foot-10. This height difference means something in college volleyball, not only in blocking but also in attacking. Gaido has a higher attack point, giving her another advantage in her offensive playmaking. She has recorded 55 kills since becoming a regular in the rotation.
Along with Gaido, other bench players have shown that Texas volleyball’s depth will be key to making a post-season run. After a tough loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores on Sunday, the Longhorns will have to bounce back. They are currently tied for third in the SEC with Tennessee. If they secure a spot in the top four, Texas will automatically advance to the third round of the SEC Tournament.
The Longhorns are returning home to play their second-to-last game at Gregory Gymnasium against Ole Miss on Friday.
