Yes, it's that time of the year when ESPN starts releasing their local broadcast schedules in hopes that fans will get excited and tune into their station for another season of sports. ESPN shows now less respect for Longhorn Network than they do their other networks. So what if LHN's main carrier is U-Verse? So what if more than 80% of the people in the state of Texas still don't have access to Longhorn Network. For ESPN it's all about earning a profit. With that in mind, ESPN has revealed their fall schedule for women's volleyball and soccer matches on Longhorn Network. Please note that additional games could be added if Texas makes it to the playoffs and hosts some games. Here's the release from ESPN Media Zone.
Longhorn Network to Televise 23 Texas Volleyball and Soccer Matches in Fall 2013
Coverage of Texas Volleyball, the reigning 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Champions, launches on Longhorn Network Saturday, Sept. 7, at Gregory Gymnasium with a matchup against 2012 NCAA Semifinalist Penn State. The 24/7 University of Texas network will televise a total of 12 matches this season.
Texas returns five starters and 11 letter winners from the national championship team. The Longhorns won their sixth Big 12 Championship title and finished with an overall 29-4 record in 2012. Junior Haley Eckerman, Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, will return to the squad along with senior outside hitter Bailey Webster, the 2012 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament outstanding player. Texas’ incoming freshman class for 2013 is ranked No. 5 in the nation.
ESPN’s Nell Fortner will provide commentary throughout the season. Fortner earned a dual scholarship in basketball and volleyball to the University of Texas, and she helped lead the Longhorns volleyball team to the 1981 AIAW National Championship. Joining Fortner is Paul Sunderland, who served as indoor volleyball announcer for the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Texas Volleyball Schedule:
| Date | Time (all times CT) | Opponent |
| Sat, Sept. 7 | 1 p.m. | Penn State |
| Sat, Sept. 7 | 3 p.m. (Airing on delay at 10 p.m.) | Stanford vs. Florida |
| Sun, Sept. 8 | 10 a.m. (Airing on delay at 5 p.m.) | Penn State vs. Florida |
| Sun, Sept. 8 | 3 p.m. | Stanford |
| Sun, Sept. 22 | 1 p.m. | Nebraska |
| Sat, Sept. 28 | 3 p.m. | Oklahoma |
| Wed, Oct. 9 | 6 p.m. | Texas Tech |
| Wed, Oct. 30 | 7 p.m. | TCU |
| Sat, Nov. 9 | 7 p.m.* | Kansas |
| Thu, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. | West Virginia |
| Sat, Nov. 23 | 4 p.m.* | Kansas State |
| Sat, Nov. 30 | 4 p.m. | Baylor |
*Tentative start time
Additionally, Texas Soccer kicks off its season on Friday, Aug. 16, with an exhibition match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field. A total of 11 games will be aired this fall on LHN. The 2012 team finished with an overall 8-10-2 record and made its 10th appearance in the Big 12 Championship semifinals. This year, the Longhorns are anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Abby Smith, who posted an impressive seven shutouts in her debut season.
ESPN’s Monica Gonzalez will serve as analyst and Glenn Davis will handle play-by-play duties for the matches. Gonzalez is a former member of the Mexico national women’s team and was part of the 2004 Olympic team. Davis is a former U.S. professional soccer player and was a NAIA All-American.
Live Texas Soccer Schedule:
| Date | Time (all times CT) | Opponent |
| Fri, Aug. 16 | 7 p.m. | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi* |
| Fri, Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. | Georgia |
| Sun, Aug. 25 | Noon | South Florida |
| Fri, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m. | Samford |
| Sun, Sept. 8 | Noon | Illinois State |
| Fri, Sept. 20 | 7 p.m. | Texas State |
| Sun, Sept. 22 | 7 p.m. | UTSA |
| Fri, Sept. 27 | 7 p.m. | TCU |
| Sun, Sept. 29 | 1 p.m. | Iowa State |
| Fri, Oct. 11 | 7 p.m. | Baylor |
| Sun, Oct. 20 | 1 p.m. | Oklahoma |
*Preseason exhibition
About Longhorn Network
ESPN has a 20-year agreement to own and operate a year-round, 24-hour network dedicated to Texas athletics in partnership with UT and IMG College. Longhorn Network offers a variety of content, highlighted by more than 175 exclusive events annually from 20 sports, original series and studio shows, historical programming and academic and cultural happenings.
Where to Watch
Longhorn Network is available on AT&T U-verse TV, Verizon FiOS TV, Grande Communications, Cox Communications, Cablevision, Charter Communications, Google Fiber (in Kansas City), Consolidated Communications, En-Touch Systems, E-Tex Communications, Bay City Cablevision, Mid-Coast Cablevision and Texas Mid-Gulf Cablevision. Longhorn Network is now available online to Verizon FiOS, Grande Communications, Cox Communications and Charter Communications subscribers at LonghornNetwork.com. It is also available on tablets and on smartphones to fans with an affiliated video subscription.
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ESPN contact: Keri Potts, (860) 766-4483 or keri.a.potts@espn.com
University of Texas media contact: Nick Voinis, (512) 471-2151 or Nick.Voinis@athletics.utexas.edu
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