Texas wins back-to-back national championships

The GIST: For the second straight year, the aforementioned Texas Longhorns brought brooms to the national championship court — this time sweeping the Nebraska Cornhuskers 25–22, 25–14, 25–11 in front of yesterday’s record-breaking indoor NCAA volleyball crowd. Cut that net.

How they did it: The Longhorns bounced back from a nerve-wracking 5-3 season start to bag their fourth trophy. This title broke Texas’ championship game losing streak against the Huskers, who defeated the Longhorns in their first two ’ship meetings (1995 and 2015). The third time’s the charm.

• Other than the previously mentioned Skinner’s (literal) killer tournament, sixth-year middle blocker Asjia O’Neal scored a career-high five out of her squad’s championship-record 12 aces — including the serve that sealed the title.

What’s next: As the Pro Volleyball Federation’s first-ever No. 1 draft pick, O’Neal will soon be serving professionally and perhaps for Team USA at next summer’s Olympics. With only three other seniors on their roster, Texas will return the bulk of their champs (including Skinner) as they try to hook the sport’s second-ever three-peat next year.

• As for Nebraska, this is just the beginning. With no seniors, the freshmen-heavy Huskers will return a complete roster of athletes with championship experience. Already scared.

Zooming out: ICYMI, volleyball is the moment, and all eyes (and dollars) are on the college game, where indoor and international attendance and viewership records continue to be broken.

• It’s no wonder that investors and broadcasters are digging in, creating more events to feature the NCAA’s best. Just the beginning.