It has definitely been quite a change to watch a Texas team with meh blocking but elite digging - Stafford is such a monster in the back court to complement Halter and Gary.
Compare 2025 to our 2020, 2022 and 2023 teams (runner-up, champ, champ)
2020 - 2.77 bps, 13.17 dps
2022 -2.50 bps, 13.43 dps
2023 - 2.89 bps (!!), 13.41 dps
2025 - 2.17 bps, 14.59 dps
We are averaging over an additional dig per set in 2025, compared to our last 3 really good teams who played in the national championship match.
Our offensive numbers are way down compared to 2020 and 2022, but we are also quite young at 4 positions (SO MB1, FR MB2, FR OH2, FR OPP)
2020 - .335
2022 - .336
2023 - .282
2025 - .298
This 2025 team plays better back court defense than 2023's title team, but is hitting at a better percentage thanks to Stafford and Spears.
2023 - OH Skinner (.295), OH Wenaas (.211), MB O'Neal (.403), MB Bergmark (.328), OPP Phillips (.279)
2025 - OH Stafford (.336), OH Vander Wal (.211), MB Ames (.349), MB Harvey (.556), OPP Spears (.335)