Texas volleyball chops down Wisconsin, moves to NCAA title match against Nebraska

TAMPA, Fla. — No matter how tall a lineup that Wisconsin rolled onto the court, it couldn’t match the size of Texas volleyball’s heart.

Fueled by a ferocious defensive effort and a balanced attack, Texas kept its hopes of a second consecutive national title alive with a 3-1 win in an NCAA women’s volleyball national semifinal Thursday night at Amalie Arena. The Longhorns will face fellow volleyball blue-blood Nebraska Sunday afternoon after the No. 1 Huskers swept Pittsburgh.

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Texas (27-4) had plenty of heroes while toppling the nation’s biggest squad in Wisconsin (30-4). Libero Emma Halter painted a defensive masterpiece while racking up 19 digs and anchoring a strong passing game from the back row. Jenna Wenaas and Molly Phillips had 10 kills apiece while keeping the pressure off offensive workhorse Madisen Skinner, and All-American Asjia O’Neal proved the best middle blocker on the court with 11 kills and four blocks.

And Skinner? The  All-American attacker didn’t reach 20 kills for the first time in five matches, but she did deliver 18 kills as well as an epic 10-point run from the service line that helped Texas win the third set and seize control of the match.

The Longhorns (27-4) will face Nebraska (33-1) for the third time in a national championship match Sunday at 2 p.m. Texas dropped its two previous title matches to the Cornhuskers in 1995 and 2015.