Current:Home > InvestTexas sweeps past Nebraska to win second straight NCAA women's volleyball championship-LoTradeCoin
Texas sweeps past Nebraska to win second straight NCAA women's volleyball championship
View Date:2024-12-23 23:16:56
TAMPA, Fla. — Texas volleyball served up a second straight national championship to its fans.
Literally.
Powered by a pinpoint service game, Texas stunned top-ranked Nebraska in Amalie Arena while rolling to a second consecutive national title. The 25-22, 25-24, 25-11 sweep capped off an improbable repeat run for the Longhorns, who never topped the national poll this season and entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed.
But Texas (28-4) played its best volleyball in December while knocking off top seeds Stanford, Wisconsin and, finally, Nebraska. That’s become a habit for the Longhorns, who haven’t dropped a set in ether of its two wins in the past two national-title games.
Texas was at its best at the service line. The Longhorns fired 12 aces, including five from middle blocker Asjia O’Neal, who capped arguably the best career of any Longhorn volleyball player with four kills and three blocks.
Junior outside hitter Madisen Skinner, a leading candidate for the national player of the year award, again aced the Texas offense with 16 kills while setter Ella Swindle had 21 assists while becoming just the third true freshman to lead her team to a Division I championship. Libero Emma Halter joined Skinner, O’Neal and Swindle on the all-tournament team after collecting nine digs.
Emotions ran hot all match in the meeting between two teams that have now each won five national titles, especially in a taut first set. After a questionable four-touch call on Texas negated a kill from Wenaas at the end of a marathon rally, Elliott didn’t hide his frustration with the officials and drew a yellow card for a caution. Moments later, Elliott got even more steamed over an apparent substitution violation by Nebraska that didn’t get called, which led to a red card and a point for Nebraska.
But with the set tied at 22-22 and the partisan Cornhusker crowd in full throat, Texas showed its championship poise by scoring three straight points, including an ace by Keonilei Akana that closed out the set.
The next two sets lacked such drama as the Longhorns cruised to the win over a shell-shocked Nebraska (33-2) with the match breaking the NCAA attendance record for an indoor volleyball contest as 19,727 fans took in Sunday's final.
veryGood! (864)
Related
- Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal
- Tom Brady Reacts After Stranger Accidentally Receives His Family Photo
- Robbers' getaway car stolen as they're robbing Colorado check chasing store, police say
- House Democrats call on Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse from Trump 2020 election case
- Tom Brady Shares How He's Preparing for Son Jack to Be a Stud
- Biden’s push for Ukraine aid stalls in Senate as negotiations over border restrictions drag on
- US Steel to be acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel for nearly $15 billion, companies announce
- A new normal? 6 stories about the evolving U.S. COVID response in 2023
- Wicked's Ethan Slater Shares How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Set the Tone on Set
- Colorado woman gored by deer outside front door of her home
Ranking
- Texas mother sentenced to 50 years for leaving kids in dire conditions as son’s body decomposed
- Turkey links Sweden’s NATO bid to US approving F-16 jet sales and Canada lifting arms embargo
- ‘Max Payne’ and ‘Rescue Me’ actor James McCaffrey dies at 65
- Hawaii governor’s first budget after Maui wildfire includes funds for recovery and fire prevention
- Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
- Georgia’s governor says the state will pay a $1,000 year-end bonus to public and school employees
- Teddi Mellencamp Shares Next Step in Cancer Battle After Unsuccessful Immunotherapy
- Escaped Texas inmate who was serving life without parole for child sexual abuse has been recaptured
Recommendation
-
4 charged in Detroit street shooting that left 2 dead, 5 wounded
-
Wisconsin DNR preps 2024 grant program for small water systems to deal with PFAS contamination
-
A new normal? 6 stories about the evolving U.S. COVID response in 2023
-
Five-star quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola flips commitment from Georgia to Nebraska
-
Indiana man is found guilty of murder in the 2017 killings of 2 teenage girls
-
Jalen Hurts illness updates: Eagles QB expected to play vs. Seahawks on Monday
-
Biden’s push for Ukraine aid stalls in Senate as negotiations over border restrictions drag on
-
This Is Your Last Chance to Save on Gifts at Anthropologie’s 40% off Sale on Cozy Clothes, Candles & More