Texas defeats Wisconsin in 2023 DI women’s volleyball semifinals

Texas surged in the final two sets to roll Wisconsin, 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-13, 25-16).

The Longhorns aced 11 times, which is a season-best for the squad. Madisen Skinner had a career game at the service line, doubling her previous career-best of three, and Asjia O’Neal and Emma Halter both added two.

Ella Swindle’s 46 assists set her pins up for greatness as four Longhorns killed in the double digits: Madisen Skinner (18), Asjia O’Neal (11), Molly Phillips (10) and Jenna Wenaas (10). 

Wisconsin’s block attempted to put out the Texas offensive effort, but the Longhorns contained Sarah Franklin to her season-low four-set killing performance at 13. Wisconsin additionally got out-dug 56-44, mainly at the hands of Texas libero Emma Halter.

This will be Texas’ eighth national championship appearance as the Longhorns search for their second consecutive championship and fourth in program history. Texas and Nebraska have faced each other on two occasions in the national finals — 1995 and 2015 — and the Longhorns have yet to beat the Huskers on the national championship stage.