The 2022 Texas Longhorns volleyball team made the visit to Washington D.C. and the White House on Monday for their championship season last fall.
UT went 28-1 last season, including 15-1 in the Big 12.
The Horns defeated Fairleigh Dickson, Georgia, Marquette and Ohio State in the NCAA tournament. Then they beat San Diego 3-1 in the Final Four before sweeping Louisville, 25-22, 25-14, 26-24 in the national championship.
Four players on the national championship team are products of Dallas-Fort Worth, Asjia O’Neal, Molly Phillips, Jenna Wenaas and Kenna Miller.
O’Neal (Southlake Carroll) posted nine kills on 14 attempts, four digs and three block assists. Phillips (Mansfield) had six kills on 16 attempts and two block assists.
O’Neal, a redshirt senior at UT, ended the season with 208 kills (second best in her career), a career high 0.443 hitting percentage and 117 total blocks. During her time at Carroll, O’Neal, the daughter of former NBA all star Jermaine O’Neal, was the No. 2 prospect and was District MVP as a junior, a TGCA all star and a national champion in club season with TAV.
Phillips, a senior at UT, posted a career high 200 kills with a 0.381 hitting percentage (second best in her career) and 63 total blocks. She was District MVP and all-area most valuable player of the year as a senior with Mansfield. She was ranked No. 16 for her class and a 2018 All-American. She helped Team USA to a gold medal at the NORCECA Championship in 2018.
Wenaas (Frisco Liberty), a junior, starred for Minnesota before coming to Austin. In high school, Wenaas was a First Team All-American and ranked No. 3 for her class. She’s the all time kills leader at Liberty with 2,073 kills. She’s also a two-time District MVP for the Redhawks. Wenaas also won a championship with TAV.
Miller (Justin Northwest), a freshman, was a four year starter with the Texans and named an All-American in 2021. She was a three-time all-area selection and a four time superlative award winner for her district including hitter of the year twice. Miller holds multiple school records including most kills in match with 34.
