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Today is Oct. 31, 2024. And on this date in Texas history, Mira Topic led the UT volleyball team past Texas Tech with a record-setting effort.
In a five-set victory during the 2001 season, Topic registered 35 kills. That 35-kill performance broke the school record that the then-freshman had set earlier in the month against Missouri by one kill.
With the takedown of Texas Texas, UT improved its record to 13-8. The Longhorns eventually finished their first season under head coach Jerritt Elliott with 17 wins and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Topic went on to become UT’s all-time leader in kills, and her 2,116 kills from 2001-04 remain the school standard. Destinee Hooker, who had 34 kills against Penn State in 2009, is the only Longhorn who has threatened Topic’s single-match record in the past 20 years. Earlier this year, Topic was inducted into the Texas Hall of Honor.