Baylor finished the night with eight team blocks, narrowly edging Texas’ seven, but the Longhorns’ efficiency on offense proved decisive. Baylor never led in the match, and every time the Bears found momentum defensively, errors halted their progress.

The Bears opened conference play Friday night with a 1-0 loss to in-state rival Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ only score came off a penalty kick by senior forward Peyton Parsons.

Suddenly, high-pitched screams erupted, heads flipped toward the glowing stage and the crowd surged forward as the man himself stepped up to the mic and kicked off the night with “Never Get Tired (of Loving You).”

Howdy, a longstanding tradition in the Baylor community, brought students together to celebrate the start of the fall semester and raise money for Pi Phi’s philanthropy, “Read>Lead>Achieve,” through music, dancing and western fashion.