NCAA Women
December 13, 2023
By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com
TAMPA — The Texas Longhorns have battled expectations, a 5-3 start to the season and staring their demise squarely in the face while overcoming a match point in the region semifinals.
For the defending national champions, it has been one challenge after another.
Now for a really sizable task.
How can the Longhorns cope with the front line of Wisconsin, which includes junior Anna Smrek (at 6-foot-9 the tallest player in the college game) and Carter Booth (6-7)?
For Texas to stand tall in Thursday night’s NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship national semifinals at Amalie Arena, it must find a way to avoid getting stuffed at the net. Easier said than done.
When the Longhorns (26-4) challenge the Badgers (30-3), it’s a question of whether their speed and athleticism can overcome the Wisconsin Wall. Many have tried. Few have succeeded.
“I think we have a super competitive gym,’’ Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said. “We see big blocks in our gym all the time. Obviously, Wisconsin is really big. We have super dynamic athletes. We have our own physicality. We have our own speed.
“It’s part of the fun…
