The Texas volleyball team may hold something of a U.S. Women's National Team reunion at the next Volleyball Nations League, based on the list of 30 players selected for the team.
That list includes former Texans players Asjia O'Neal, Brion Butler, Zoe Fleck and Chiaka Ogbogu, as well as current Longhorn Madisen Skinner.
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U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Karch Killary and his staff selected 14 players from the list and will play in Rio de Janeiro from May 15-19, in Arlington from May 28-June 2, and in June. He will be competing at the VNL venue in the United States in Fukuoka, Japan, until the 11th. 16. The final round of the VNL is scheduled for June 20-23 in Bangkok.
Kiraly said the VNL's early matches will be used to select players for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 12 players plus alternates.
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Ogbogu is one of nine players on the roster that played on the 2020 Olympic gold medal team. Butler and O'Neal also have VNL experience.
Arguably the most decorated player in college volleyball, Skinner will be a key part of Texas' quest for a third straight national championship in 2024. Skinner, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Katy in her third year with the Longhorns, led the Longhorns to their second consecutive national title with 16 kills, two aces, and the most Final Four finishes. He earned Outstanding Player honors in 2023 after having one block in a championship match victory over Nebraska. She finished the season ranked fifth nationally in points per set (5.54) and sixth nationally in kills per set (4.8), led the team with 46 service aces, and was named first by the National Volleyball Coaches Association. He won the team's Most Valuable Player Award.