Texas' Asjia O'Neal, Chiaka Ogbogu in middle of action for U.S. women's volleyball team
ARLINGTON — The U.S. women’s national volleyball team has found out what Texas fans have known for more than a decade: When it comes to producing elite middle blockers, no collegiate program does it like the Longhorns.
Need proof? Visit the Texas-Arlington campus this weekend, where the defending Olympic champion U.S. women’s team is trying to fend off the top squads in the world at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals. Three U.S. team players are Longhorns — UT exes Chiaka Ogbogu and Brionne Butler and current Horn Asjia O’Neal.
All three are middle blockers, and all three have played big roles for a U.S. team that entered the final round of the VNL tournament in second place behind Poland.
“We have a running joke with all the middles who've ever played at Texas that we call ourselves Middle Blocker University,” said Ogbogu, who earned four All-American selections while playing at Texas from 2013 to 2017. “It seems like we always have really talented middles in our program.”
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U.S. coach Karch Kiraly would agree. An international legend for the U.S. men’s team during his playing days, the 62-year-old Kiraly has spent a decade as head coach of the U.S. women. During that time, six UT middles have played for the national team: Rachael Adams, Molly McCage, Lauren Paolini and the current three.
Kiraly likes Ogbogu’s “Middle Blocker U” description, saying Texas' program, which is run by head coach Jerritt Elliott, has supplanted Minnesota's as the preeminent collegiate developer of elite national middle blockers.
“Well, I guess it's a little like football,” Kiraly said. “There used to be Tailback U, the University of Southern California. There’s a Middle U in volleyball, and now it seems it's in Austin and it’s the Longhorns. Jerritt does a great job there. I think they do a really good job of recruiting people who are a special athletes — tall, powerful leapers. And then training them to not just be physical, but to be really good volleyball players. And so that's what we're seeing. It’s a credit to Jerritt and his staff.”
While Ogbogu and Butler have made multiple appearances for the national squad, O’Neal’s presence on the team is particularly impressive considering the 6-foot-4 senior stands out as the lone U.S. player still competing in the collegiate ranks. She’s aware of the Longhorns’ legacy at her position, and she embraces her opportunity to add to the tradition.
Elliott and his staff “just do a really good job by giving us a system that works for us,” O'Neal said. “Myself, Bri and Chi are all successful middle blockers, but I think we're all a little different, too. I think that's why it's interesting that while (the Texas coaches) stay on their brand on what they need from the middle, they still adapt to each individual. They basically have been able to transform all of us from raw talent to playing at the next level.”
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O’Neal’s state pride shines through, too, when discussing the Longhorns’ impact on the national team. She graduated from nearby Southlake Carroll, Ogbogu played next door at Coppell, and Butler grew up in the Houston area.
“Texas is a huge volleyball state, and I think we create so many good volleyball players here,” she said. “So having the finals here is really exciting. And I'm hoping that there'll be a lot of young girls in the stands that will see this high level of professional volleyball and realize there's so many girls from where I'm from that did it, so why can’t I do it, too? I'm really hoping that this will be a good catalyst to continue to set it off.”
Taking lessons back to the Longhorns
Ogbogu and O’Neal drew selections for the final round, which will continue for the U.S. in a semifinal matchup with Turkey on Saturday. Ogbogu had eight kills and a block as the U.S. beat Japan in four sets Thursday to advance to the semifinals.
After this week's tournament, O’Neal won’t have much time to rest; Texas will get together for fall camp in a few weeks, host its annual Orange White scrimmage Aug. 12 and begin defense of its NCAA national title Aug. 25 in Los Angeles against Long Beach State.
During her time with the national team, O’Neal hopes to absorb some lessons that will help the Longhorns this season — and help her when she eventually leaves Texas to begin a professional career overseas. The 24-year-old will serve as UT’s matriarch this season, so she’s relishing her brief time as a rookie.
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“It is weird being younger than everyone on my team. All the girls (at Texas) call me Grandma,” she said. “I'm here and the players are, like, ‘Oh, you're so young. When do you head back to school?’ So it's funny going back and forth.
“I think it's really fun to be able to learn, especially with international play being so different. But whenever we're having our meetings and establishing our team culture, I like to listen to things and see what I can take back to my team at school, because they’ve created a culture here that’s so positive. That’s the reason (the U.S.) has had so much success, and I would love to be able to bring some of those ideas back to Texas.”
Eyeing her next step, after college
She’s also gotten to know Ogbogu, who is 28 and plays in Turkey. Ogbogu has enjoyed a long international career and is already laying a foundation for her post-playing days, including possible team ownership when she retires.
“Chi has always been someone I’ve looked up to, but kind of from afar,” O’Neal said. “I've really tried to use this time to talk to her and just kind of learn from her and hear about her experience. She's so successful at what she does, and she's created such a great brand for herself and is such an amazing person. She’s someone that I would love to emulate and be like that. So really, I think when you're around people like that, it helps just soaking in everything.”
For her part, Ogbogu says O’Neal seems to have the right stuff to succeed after she leaves Texas.
“She's very athletic and able to make plays, but it’s her approach to the game that is really impressive,” Ogbogu said. “She just remains calm and steady, and nothing really shakes her. That’s really important at this level.
“I think our university really prepares us for that transition, because you have to deal with that when you're a student. I feel like being a student-athlete compared to being a professional, honestly, being a professional is easier. When you’re in school, there’s the schoolwork and so many more activities, practices, travel. And on top of that, you're trying to be a normal college kid.
“So honestly, I think Asjia is probably in a better spot than I was (at UT). I think she will do great at the next level.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Longhorns carrying on tradition for U.S. women's volleyball team
