Texas Tigers Podcast
Texas Tigers Podcast
S7 | E10 | Texas Tiger Podcast | VB | Mallory Matthews, Katie Server | Sept. 24, 2026
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ETBU+ Director Jacob Bumpas talks with ETBU Volleyball Head Coach Mallory Matthews and student-athlete Katie Server about the preseason schedule, the start of ASC play, and the overall program.
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SPEAKER_02All right, welcome to the Texas Tiger Podcast on ETB Plus. I'm the bump Jagabumpus, joined today with head volleyball coach Mallory Matthews and sophomore middle blocker Katie Server. Thank you guys so much for joining us.
SPEAKER_04Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of course. Well, first off, uh congratulations. You guys had a big weekend. Uh sweeping in the Tiger invitational going 4-0. Uh first, Coach Mallory, I just want to ask you, how great was it just being back at home and playing in front of the home crowd for really the first time this season?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we love playing in Ornellis. Um, it's a fun gym to play in for us. We also had a really great crowd being family weekend, um, or I think our 2 p.m. on game on Saturday against Southwestern. Uh there wasn't many seats left in the house. Um, so that was really fun. Um, and just exciting to play on our home floor, you know, obviously getting to practice on it every day. Our girls feel comfortable on it, um, and thought we did a really great job um in front of our home crowd.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and Katie, I mean, we've talked uh about this with Coach Mallory before, but uh, you guys have been on the road for what it seems like forever. You know, you guys were into a really competitive, really good tournament. Yes. And then you guys finally come back home. What was it for you like finally playing a game where you could sleep in your own bed before the game that night?
SPEAKER_03It was awesome. All my roommates and I were so excited to be home, but we obviously love the fun bus rides and all the trips we get to build relationships with our teammates, but we were so excited for the turnout for everyone to come and watch us play at home for the first time. And so we think it really went well and that we're excited to keep playing at home and hopefully for more people to come.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and did you kind of feel like a difference before going that trip to after in tor in terms of like a closeness with your team? Because you guys did a lot of fun stuff on that trip as well, right?
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. We did. First things first, we went to the aquarium in Georgia, it was awesome. That was super fun. But we like love going on those fun trips and they build the relationships with our teammates, and so playing at home, it was just really fun to feel finally feel super connected and really feel glued and really I think it also showed on the court.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and coach, um, you know, we we talk about with a lot of teams before, you know, sometimes you just play better at home, you know, and it definitely seemed like uh in that tournament, like all the pieces were put together, you guys love playing in front of the fans. Did you feel a big difference just being at home and kind of having that affect your guys' play?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously playing at home is a huge advantage. Um, but also I think just being week three, I think our team has gotten better and better each week. Um, and I do think that the travel plays a good part into that. Just the, you know, we have a big team, we've got 25 people on our team, and so just the team bonding over the last couple weeks going into this past weekend, um, I think played a lot into feeling like we were like, you know, glued together and and playing really well and kind of firing on all cylinders. So I've just been really proud of the improvement that we've been seeing week after week.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and you I mean you talk about improvement. I mean, when you start the season, what was it, four out of six matches were against nationally ringed teams? I mean, you're gonna see a difference uh immediately after you come home. What was that like for UK? You know, playing tough competition uh again and again and then uh just coming back home and just being able to dominate.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so all the teams that we played were really, really talented teams, and we knew that going in. And so I think we had a great mindset of coming out strong, and we really wanted to see what we could do as a team coming out at the beginning of the season. And you know, sometimes it didn't go as planned, but you know, I think it was a really great challenge for us and that it's helped us improve to where we are now. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And again, coach, uh coming home, it was a uh a 4-0 weekend uh against uh all these teams that you guys played in the Tiger Invitational. You started off against Hendrix College. Now uh in that first match, you guys dropped the first set, and then you guys did the reverse uh sweep after that. What did you see change uh between the first and the second set within your team?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think coming out in the first set, um, we were a little flat to be honest. I don't think it was our best volleyball that we had played, and then um just kind of changing the mindset going into set two, uh, making sure that we were playing our our style of volleyball, um, getting comfortable back in our home gym, like we had said. We had traveled for two weeks, and so I think they did just that and then played really well those next three sets. And so I think we just needed a little second to get comfortable back in our gym, and um, and they did a good job of recovering after that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and then uh the game that uh I feel like just or the match that I feel like that you guys put all the pieces together was against Christopher Newport, and uh, I think the week before they were like number 22, and then they dropped out, but they were still receiving receiving votes, and uh you guys uh swept them and just had control in that whole entire match. Uh, you felt like your team was pretty much in the driver's seat all the way, right?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I do. Uh, you know, that's what I had said. I wanted I wanted to be in control in that match. Um, we played Christopher Newport a couple years ago in the regional tournament and they knocked us out, and so um felt a little revenge behind that. Um, but they're a great program, um, ran by a really great coach. And so we were really excited to get to play them on our home floor. Um, but I do feel like our team was in control that whole match and just did a really good job of maintaining control, maintaining just like being calm, even in moments where maybe we did get down a little bit or they went on a run. Um, we did a good job responding back to it. And so I was really proud to see us just come out and be consistent that whole game.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and then uh Katie, I mean, you're you're just a sophomore, right? So uh of course, in that Tiger Invitational, you just, I mean, everything just kind of seemed to come together. You really stepped up. Uh, you got the Tiger Invitational MVP. What was that like for you? I mean, and kind of take me through that process. I mean, it seemed like uh you were just playing your best volleyball.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, honestly, like it wasn't even a thought in my head that it was a possibility. So I think it's just, you know, staying positive and being there for your teammates is what is most important. And so, you know, if that comes with some awards, you know that's great and it feels awesome, and I'm so honored to have received them. But I really love to give it to my teammates first because they're the ones who really push me in practice.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. And and coach, to put this in per uh perspective, she had 38 kills, uh, 357 hitting percentage, and uh uh was able to get some uh good blocks as well. But it just seems like she put every aspect of the game together.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, Katie had an incredible weekend. Um, she's done really well for us over these past two seasons, and um, she is kind of firing from everywhere right now. She's playing in the middle and on the right side for us and doing a really great job. She's a she's a wall at the net um blocking wise, so that's exciting. Um, but also really producing offensively for us. Um she actually doesn't even know this stat yet, but I was looking up some things just from this last weekend, and we set her 17 times um just in the uh firstball kill aspect of the game whenever we're in serve receive. And out of those 17, she got 17 kills out of that. Um so that's a pretty great statistic right there, being 17 for 17 and perfect every single time on a first ball kill. So um she just had an incredible weekend and excited to see what the rest of her season looks like and her career.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of course, 100%. And yeah, I mean, you get the Tiger Vitational MVP honors. And then also earlier this week, you got the other big honors being named offensive uh ASC Player of the Week. And of course, uh alongside with you, defensive player of the week, uh, went to uh Anita Hancock. Uh coach, you got two players sweeping in the ASC awards. Uh, just how awesome is that for you as a coach?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's amazing. And just showing what their work, uh, their work ethic and just it's all paying off. You know, like I said, I feel like we're getting better every single week. Um, and they the both of them are very determined players and they push each other. Um, so that's good to see too. But um, just to see us sweeping the conference awards for the week, I was really proud of that. Um honestly, it's something we had talked about uh the week prior that we wanted to get on the board for that. We hadn't been there yet this season, and so I was really proud of them for achieving that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of course. And uh Katie, uh, what's it like with uh Anita? I mean, what's kind of like your uh relationship on the court, off the court? You guys pretty close, you guys have uh pretty good chemistry on there?
SPEAKER_03Yes, I would say so. So last season I was primarily a middle blocker, and so she was the one that really led me and took me under her wing, and so we really got together and and had some great chemistry, and she's always helped me, and we've always been able to push each other in practice. And you know, if something doesn't go as planned in a play, like we always kind of encourage each other and push each other for the next one, and so I'm really glad to have Anita by my side.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of course, and uh of course, uh you're just a sophomore, right? So um, of course, I I I think you probably had to experience that last year, but uh you guys played Laterno in the the final match of the Tiger Invitational. Of course, around here, a big rivalry between Longview and uh and us, you know, just right down the road in Longview. So uh that one was fun. What was that like for you playing in that rivalry matchup for the last one in the uh Tiger Invitational?
SPEAKER_03Right. It's always fun to play Laterno. They're just 30 minutes down the road, and we know the girls on the team very well, and so we always get really excited, especially when it's a home game, we get really hyped and hopefully all goes well. But we're really we really have fun playing Laterno every season. I bet they feel the same way.
SPEAKER_02And coach for you, do you ever like, you know, does it ever come into your mind like, oh, I'm just coaching against my my former team? Do you ever think about that or is it just all uh gameplay, you know?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I mean, I the girls that are on the team now, um, they they weren't any of my girls, but in the pr in the past years, yes. Um, absolutely. Always kind of thought about that. But um, it's always a great competition. Um, and it's always a fun rivalry rivalry, like she said, they're just down the road from us, so it's easy to get to know them and um you know they've done a great job this season as well, and so it was fun to get to play them.
SPEAKER_02And then another thing I want to talk about, of course, it's been a while since this happened, but uh Katie, I wanted to get your perspective on it. Uh the new locker room, brand new locker room for you guys. Uh, what was that like being surprised with a brand new locker room and seeing how awesome that was?
SPEAKER_03Oh my goodness, it was amazing. Walking in for the first time, that was absolutely insane. Our team was not expecting the outcome that it came out to, and it was absolutely amazing. And during my visit coming here, it was mentioned, and so it was a little surprise, but it was so exciting for all the team to see it, and it just turned out so much better than we thought we would.
SPEAKER_02Coach, are you still saying that they're spending, you know, a lot of time in there, maybe too much time uh just soaking all that up?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, they're spending a lot of time in there, and we've done um like we do our film in there, we've done our discipleships in there. Um, I just see the girls in there like going in and hanging out even before we did this interview. Katie was just in there just hanging out on the couches. Um, but they do seem to use it a lot for just like fellowship and hang out, especially before practices and games and stuff. So it's been just a great opportunity for our team to grow closer to.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. And then uh coming up here uh this weekend and really starting today uh on this uh Thursday uh evening, you guys got uh conference play starting up uh against Howard Payne should be a lot of fun. What have you been telling your girls to kind of get ready and getting the mindset for conference play?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, conference play, I mean, it starts a new season, you know, everybody's zero and zero right now. Um and so just making sure that we're going in with the right mindset, making sure we're playing ETB volleyball, making sure we're staying on our side of the net um and worrying about like the things that we can control is gonna be really important going into conference. Um obviously winning conference over the last three years has been such an accomplishment, but we don't feel like we're satisfied with that yet and want to continue on um to this next year. And so, you know, conference play, it is a change. Um, like I said, it's a new season and everybody kind of gets a new mindset, not just us. And so um Howard Payne has found some success this preseason and so excited to play them tonight, and then going into Shriner on Saturday and then getting to play a non-conference game against Austin College um right afterwards. I'm just really excited going into this weekend, um, getting good, good competition.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and it I was gonna ask, it kind of seems like to me, uh, you do a great job of like just making sure that your team has competition and and a lot of it. I mean, doing a doubleheader on Saturday after a conference match, what kind of goes into that? What are you trying to get out of that for your girls?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I mean, Austin College is a great program. We typically play them uh once a year and we kind of flip-flop back and forth from home and away. Um, and so it was really the date that it could work out for both of us. Um, but you know, playing them back to back, it is a good opportunity for us to play doubleheaders just because in um, you know, conference tournament or in once we get into the postseason, like that's what we will be doing some. And so it's a great opportunity for us to kind of practice that as well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and Katie, I mean, have you kind of felt a change in the atmosphere in terms of conference uh play getting ready to start? Or for you and the rest of your team, is it just business as usual?
SPEAKER_03I think it's a little bit of both. We're all really excited and really focused while we come into conference, and so I think Howard Paint is a good first competitor, and we're gonna be really excited to start off uh conference season really strong.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of course. And uh, you know, really excited to see how that plays out. Should be a whole lot of fun. Uh, we'll go ahead and take a quick break and then uh we'll get back and finish up this podcast. Uh, this is the Texas Tiger Podcast on ETB Plus. We'll be back in just a second.
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SPEAKER_02And now let's return back to the Texas Tiger Podcast. Welcome back to the Texas Tiger Podcast on ETB Plus. I'm the Bump Jacob Bumpus here with head volleyball coach uh Mallory Matthews and uh sophomore Katie Server. Uh Katie, we were talking about beforehand. You had a great weekend, Tiger Invitational MVP. Your team went 4-0 uh at home. And then of course you also won ASC Offensive Player of the Week. So again, congratulations on that. Uh, that was awesome. But I kind of wanted to get you to talk a little bit about your story. Um, let's start with this. Where did your love of volleyball come from? Uh was it uh a person, maybe uh a place? Where did that love for volleyball come from for you?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, absolutely. So I think it just starts off a lot for or similar similarly for a lot of people in middle school. It was just like volleyball season's coming up. If you like playing sports, you know, just try out for the team. And so I tried out for the team in seventh grade, got made on the A team, and so just kept throwing playing through middle school. And then once I got to high school, I actually planned on playing basketball. But one of my close friends from middle school invited me to go to a club, um, club practice. And so they invited me on the team, and you know, I was like, maybe volleyball is for me. And so I ended up stopping playing basketball and went on my first club uh club team, my freshman year of high school, and just have loved it ever since. And so, but I always get comments here and there saying funny things about my last name, you know, just the connection. And so playing basketball at first, they were like, Oh, you don't play volleyball, and then you know, just coming to play volleyball. So I think it's a little ironic now that here we are. So yes.
SPEAKER_02I'm glad you brought that up because I was gonna ask, I mean, with the last name like that, I just think you know, I kind of thought that it was in your blood. But uh that's awesome that you kind of made that transition from basketball to volleyball. Um, so ever since then it sounds like it's been your love and you've enjoyed putting in that hard work for it.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely, yes. And playing volleyball is different than basketball. Obviously, basketball is a contact sport, and so volleyball is more about coming together as your uh with your team. And so I I think I really love that aspect and all the positivity and getting to build the relationships. And so, yes, volleyball is just my second love turn first, and I think it's gonna be like that for a long time.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's awesome. Awesome to hear. Do you have a favorite moment, you know, in your volleyball career, maybe here at ETV or maybe in the past, just something that kind of sticks with you as you play?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I would say there are two very big moments. My first one was in high school. We were first in the nation, nationally ranked, all the things, and then got to win a state championship my senior year. So that's gonna stick with me for a long time. And then of course, last season it was super, super awesome. Like we went all the way to the Elite Eight and got to play some really high-level volleyball. And I don't think that one I'm gonna ever forget that one either.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's awesome that you mentioned that. Uh being uh top ranked as a high school, um, playing high school volleyball. But you know, last year you guys were also nationally ranked number one at one point uh in D3 volleyball. What was that like, that whole process, you know, being on the national uh stage and then you know playing deep uh into the tournament, going to the lead eight. What was that like for you as a player?
SPEAKER_03It was absolutely amazing. Obviously, as a freshman, I didn't think I knew what I was getting into. And so I was super excited to see what all came with that. And so I think we had some great leadership leading us and being able to tell us where to go and what to do. And so just getting to experience it all for the first time was absolutely amazing. And so I'm hoping and look forward uh looking forward to possibly getting to the same stage and having the same opportunities as we have in the past.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Then uh one last thing, uh, what was it like, you know, being coached by Coach Mallory Matthews? You know, of course she has uh a whole lot of history, you know, a whole lot of success. What is that like for you as a player? Just uh having that kind of drip down to you as a player.
SPEAKER_03You know, having Coach Matthews as my coach has been awesome. I think she's really taught me so many things, and I think for all the tigers that are coming into the program too, like they're gonna realize that she's gonna put you and the team first, and that's always something that a player looks for when they're looking for a school. And so being able to see that firsthand and getting to know that I have Coach by my side for the next few years is gonna be amazing.
SPEAKER_02Okay, and then I got I got a fun one for you. Uh, do you have like some kind of fun uh pregame ritual that you do? Because uh I talked to uh Lindsay Gooch uh for our Tiger Talks, and she said that uh her big uh pregame ritual is like closing her eyes, staring against a wall, and like pretending uh playing everything out in her mind so she can succeed. Do you have anything like that? Anything crazier, or is it a little bit more normal for you?
SPEAKER_03No, well, I think it's a little slightly more normal for me, but I love Lindsay. But um for me, I think I just came up recently, me and my one of my close friends, Casey, she's been doing my game day hair every day. So I think we're not gonna continue with that. And obviously, our club tiger, we always have really fun little pregame routines, but yes, so yeah, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_02And coach, I mean, I don't know, do you do you as a coach have like some kind of ritual or something that you have to do, you know, before you hit the cord every time?
SPEAKER_04Um, yeah, we do as a staff. Um uh home games, we always go to lunch. That's that's what we do on game days. I don't bring my lunch on home games, we go to lunch um and enjoy that time together. And then before games, recently we've been doing a little handshake as a coaching staff. Um, you know, just we're we're just a little superstitious. Um, and you know, we take some candy spray um that we that we eat before games too. I don't honestly know why we do any of it, but we do, and we're a little superstitious about it. I also always use the same winning pin. Um, and if we ever were to take a loss, I change my pin, and then that pin becomes the next winning pin. Um so that's just another little superstition thing that I do.
SPEAKER_02That's that's actually awesome because um like I I grew up playing baseball, right? So I I know right off the bat baseball, super superstitious sport. I mean, uh with your husband, you know that as well. Yeah. So it's awesome to hear. Like it's exactly the same thing with volleyball. Uh, do you have any other superstitions, like anything like that? Like you can't like for me, when I was uh coming out of the dugout, you know, you could never step on the the foul line, right? You could never do that. Is there anything like that for volleyball or is it a little bit more laid back?
SPEAKER_03For me, my only other super superstition I would say is my hair tie. Uh if we lose with a certain color of hair tie, I will wait a very, very long time until I reuse that hair tie. And so if you ever see the same hair tie a few games in a row, you know that's why, because we won.
SPEAKER_04And your lemon honey sticks.
SPEAKER_03And my lemon honey sticks, can't forget those.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's oh my goodness, that's awesome. Wow, that's awesome. Um, have you had a uh favorite moment just bonding with your team so far? I mean, uh, you kind of mentioned earlier you guys uh went um on a bunch of different things on your uh big road trip. You guys also went to a Braves game. That was fun during the East West tournament, I believe. Uh any anything fun that you just kind of really enjoyed with your teammates so far?
SPEAKER_03Well, I would say the thing that I most enjoy with my teammates, I think even though we've had so much fun on our travel tournaments, playing at home and being in our locker room all together, we all feel really at home and comfortable and getting to play on our own floor. And so just our little pregame routines before and you know getting to vibe to all the music, I think we really enjoy each other's company the most.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. And coach, now uh one more time, we'll shift our focus to uh today, tonight, and uh this weekend. Uh of course, Howard Payne tonight at six o'clock. That should be a whole lot of fun. And then right after that, coming Saturday, you guys got a double header, Schreiner, and then Austin College. Uh, what are you looking forward to most with your team? Maybe an aspect of the game that you're looking for them to kind of put together a little better this weekend.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, you know, like I said, every weekend I feel like we are getting better. Um, you know, I want to continue to try to reach for our goals. We have goals that we set for each game that we want to meet as a team, just attainable statistic goals. And so I really want to see us reaching more and more of those each game. This past weekend we did reach more of those goals. Whenever we printed it out this week, we had a lot more highlights that we reached the goals. So that's good. Um, but want to continue seeing more and more growth through that just statistically for us to continue to grow as a team because if we're meeting those goals, then we should be winning. So that's something that um I'm looking for this week is just trying to meet those goals every game.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and then Katie, uh, anything for yourself that you're just kind of telling yourself going into this game against Howard Payne tonight, something that you kind of want to focus on.
SPEAKER_03Well, you know, just starting conference out very strong. I think it's all of our goals to come out with a win tonight. And so I think we're all just gonna be really focused and come together as a team and hopefully it'll display on the court.
SPEAKER_02Well, again, um, Howard Payne tonight at six o'clock, and then you guys will uh get a short break on Friday, and then you get right back into it on Saturday. Uh can't wait to be up there calling the game and watching you guys play. Should be a whole lot of fun and good luck.
SPEAKER_03Thank you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, again, uh, thank you for being on. Uh, that was head volleyball coach Mallory Matthews and uh sophomore Katie Server on the Texas Tiger Podcast. Whole lot of uh volleyball coming up this weekend for the ETBU volleyball team. Well, that's gonna do it. I'm the bump Jacob Bumpus, and this has been the Texas Tiger Podcast on ETBU Plus. This has been the Texas Tiger Podcast on the ETB Plus Network.