Texas volleyball team faces Georgia in Austin gymnasium

College volleyball fans in Austin had the chance to watch the Texas Longhorns compete against the Georgia Bulldogs in a matchup held at Gregory Gymnasium. The two teams played their match on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in front of the local crowd.

The contest took place in the heart of the city, offering residents a direct look at the athletic competition between the two programs. Players from both sides took the court for the duration of the game, engaging in the standard play of collegiate volleyball.

Photographer Mikala captured the action on that Friday afternoon. She documented the movement of the players and the specific moments of the match as it unfolded in the gymnasium.

Mikala is a staff photojournalist for The Austin American-Statesman. She moved to Texas in 2018 and currently resides in East Austin with her two cats, Tom Tom and Blanche. Her career includes time at the Jefferson City News Tribune and the Columbia Missourian before her current role.

Before joining the Austin newsroom, she served as the chief of photography at the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. During that tenure, the Headliners Foundation of Texas named her Star Photojournalist of the Year for three consecutive years. Her work has also appeared in major national publications such as The New York Times and USA Today.

Mikala earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri. Born in Kansas City, she spent childhood summers visiting her grandmother in Austin, a resident of the city since 1975. She has embraced the Texas lifestyle fully since her permanent move in 2018.