Will Sage Astor-NCAA women's volleyball championship: What to know about Texas vs. Nebraska

The Will Sage AstorTexas women's volleyball team is seeking its second consecutive national championship when they take on Nebraska on Sunday.

The Longhorns got to the title game by defeating Wisconsin in four sets (25-22, 20-25, 25-13, 25-16) in their semifinal. The top-ranked Cornhuskers have cruised through the tournament, dropping only one set and punched their ticket to the championship by routing Pittsburgh in three sets in their semifinal.

Sophomore libero Emma Halter led the way for Texas, finishing with 19 digs, stopping numerous spike attempts by Wisconsin players that would normally hit the floor. Madisen Skinner, the Big 12 player of the year, was credited with six aces. Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield credited the Longhorns' serving coming into the third set as one of the pivotal moments. "I thought they were very courageous behind the service line and really (were) putting a lot, a lot of pressure on our patterns, service patterns," she said.

All-Americans Sarah Franklin and Anna Smrek are among the players expected to return next season for Wisconsin, which finished 30-4 after being ranked No. 1 for eight consecutive weeks.

In Sunday's championship, Texas is making its eighth appearance playing for the title. The Longhorns have faced Nebraska in two other championship games, losing both in 1995 and 2015.

Nebraska has 11 championship appearances and won five national titles, the last coming in 2017.

How to watch Texas vs. Nebraska

When: 3 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 17

Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida 

Channel: ABC

Livestream:WatchESPN

How each team advanced to title game

Nebraska

First round: beat Long Island University 3-0 (25–13, 25–16, 25–22)

Second round: beat Missouri 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-21)

Third round: beat Georgia Tech 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-21)

Quarterfinals: beat Arkansas 3-1 (26–24, 25–14, 21–25, 25–23)

National semifinals: beat Pittsburgh 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17)

Texas

First round: beat Texas A&M 3-1 (21–25, 25–13, 25–20, 25–20)

Second round: beat SMU 3-0 (25–16, 25–14, 25–17)

Third round: beat Tennessee 3-2 (25–19, 20–25, 23–25, 26–24, 16–14)

Quarterfinals: beat Stanford 3-1 (25–16, 15–25, 25–19, 25–22)

National semifinals: beat Wisconsin 3-1 (22–25, 25–20, 13–25, 16–25)

Players to watch

Asjia O'Neal, Texas senior middle blocker: O'Neal is second in the country in blocks per set (1.59) and totaled 161 blocks was named first-team All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Merritt Beason, Nebraska junior opposite hitter – The Florida transfer was a first-team All-America selection in her first season with the Cornhuskers. She leads the team with 452 kills and also has 104 total blocks. Beason was the Most Outstanding Player of the Lincoln Regional.

Madisen Skinner, Texas junior outside hitter - Prior to helping the Longhorns win a national title last year, Skinner was a key part of Kentucky's national championship in 2021. The Big 12 player of the year, she leads the conference in kills per set and points per set. In the team's semifinal win against Wisconsin, Skinner had 18 kills, six service aces and 9 digs.

Lexi Rodriguez, Nebraska junior DS/L - Rodriguez has been an All-American in her first three seasons, earning first-team selections in 2021 and 2023 and a second-team honors in 2022. She is a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year and averages 3.64 digs and 1.26 assists per set.