Texas, 2 Hawaii-born players repeat as NCAA volleyball national champs

TAMPA, Fla. — A second straight NCAA women’s volleyball national championship for Texas was double the fun for two Hawaii-born players on the Longhorns roster.

Kamehameha graduates Keonilei Akana and Devin Kahahawai made it 2-for-2 titles in seasons with Texas as the Big 12 team swept Nebraska of the Big Ten, 25-22, 25-14, 25-11, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday.

Akana, a junior from Hauula who began her college career at Nebraska, contributed two aces, four digs and an assist as a reserve defensive specialist against her former team, while Kahahawai, a sophomore hitter from Kailua, did not see action in the NCAA Tournament.

Hitter Madisen Skinner had 16 kills, five digs and two aces in earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. It was the fifth overall national title for Texas (1981, 1988, 2012, 2022, 2023).

The Longhorns served the Cornhuskers off the floor with 12 aces. Senior Asjia O’Neal had five of them and was on serve during an 11-0 run in the second set that saw the Longhorns go from down 10-7 to up 18-10.

Texas (28-4) began its season of national title defense with a loss at Long Beach State and lost to No. 2 Stanford a week later, but recovered to win 23 of its last 24 matches.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.