As the Texas Longhorns and Wisconsin Badgers Face Off in Semis, Which Former Champs Will Repeat NCAA Volleyball Glory?

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship only has four more teams left in the contest. Every team has risen to the top by eliminating some of the strongest competitors, but two of these candidates are drawing massive attention. The Texas Longhorns and the Wisconsin Badgers.

While the Texas Longhorns are the reigning NCAA Women’s Volleyball Champions, the Wisconsin Badgers lifted the trophy in 2021. Both teams have now made their way to the semifinals and will duel against each other to secure a berth for the finals. But, this year, will the Badgers be able to clinch their spot in the final for the regional showdown?

The high-voltage offensive arsenal of the Texas Longhorns 

The Texas Longhorns and the Wisconsin Badgers boast one of the strongest lineups in the league. But, while Texas thrives on its offensive prowess, Wisconsin is a defensive powerhouse. On offense, the Longhorns have been on fire thanks to Madisen Skinner and Asjia O’Neal. Skinner’s capacity to stash ‘Out of System’ and ‘high balls’ is the first one of her most reliable weapons.

While Wisconsin’s defense doesn’t usually struggle, if Skinner can keep coming through for Texas in these types of situations—hitting sharp, over the block, blasting it off three blockers, and breaking off the speed traps—they can take a lot of pressure. On the other hand, Asjia O’Neal excels at both hitting from the sides and is a threat while directly in front of the setter as well.

While Skinner and O’Neal almost never fail the Texas Longhorns, many offensive warriors have failed to breach the walls of Wisconsin. In fact, the Badgers’ defense even swallowed the high-octane duo of Penn State’s Jess Mruzik and Mac Podraza in the regional finals.

The absolute and impregnable defense of the Wisconsin Badgers

The defensive rotation of the Wisconsin Badgers has Gulce Guctekin and Julia Orzol constantly switching up their positioning. Both players have mastered the art of diving and securing digs with just one arm. Moreover, Sarah Franklin calmly navigates even the toughest of circumstances to dull the offensive edge of any team. The Badgers also have CC Crawford and Carter Booth who have silenced several kill attempts with their blocks throughout the season.

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This will leave the Texas Longhorns with the option to target the team’s attacking specialist Anna Smrek. However, Smrek is a dualist who has excellent digging and receiving skills. In fact, she bagged the title of the MVP when her team clinched the championship in 2021. This showcases that both teams are absolutely ready to face each other and reach the finals. Which team do you think has a higher chance of making it to the finals and restoring their championship glory?

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