TAMPA, Fla. — Although Texas middle blocker Asjia O’Neal will wait until after Sunday’s NCAA championship match against Nebraska to make a decision about her professional options, she did say on Friday that competing in a new domestic league remains a strong possibility.

O’Neal, a 6-foot-3 graduate student about to complete her sixth year at Texas, was the first overall pick in Monday’s inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation draft by the Columbus Fury. While Europe remains the most lucrative and most competitive market for professional volleyball, O’Neal said a possible deal with the Fury could offer a comparable contract.

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O’Neal didn’t go into details about any contract offers, but volleyball players in Europe can make anywhere from approximately $50,000 a year for new players to millions for established stars, according to various salary analytics. European-based players also have myriad opportunities for endorsements.

The chance to help grow the game in America remains appealing for O’Neal, however. College volleyball has pulled in record viewership in recent years, and Texas’ meeting with Nebraska for the NCAA championship on Sunday afternoon will broadcast live on ABC.

“I think it's so exciting that we have these opportunities to play here in America, and this is a perfect time for it,” she said. “The sport is blowing up.”

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O’Neal, 24, also got a taste of the passion for professional volleyball this summer when she competed for the U.S. National Team in the Volleyball Nations League tournament. She was the only collegiate player on the squad, and most of her teammates play professionally in Europe.

“This past summer playing with the national team, I was able to see how other countries love volleyball and how they go all out for it,” she said. “So I really hope that's a level that we can get to here.”

The PVF will begin play in January 2024 with seven teams each playing 24 matches. The season will culminate in May with a four-team championship weekend encompassing two semifinal matches before the title contest. The league plans to expand to 10 teams by 2025.

Even though volleyball began in the U.S., domestic leagues have failed to garner much traction. None have lasted more than a few seasons, and none have ever approached the stability or the salaries of the European leagues.

O’Neal earned her second consecutive first-team All-American selection from the American Volleyball Coaches Association this season. She’s in the midst of her best blocking season of her career, ranks second in the nation with 1.59 blocks per set and has a career-best 161 total blocks. She also has a .404 hitting percentage and 195 kills this season.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas volleyball star Asjia O'Neal is weighing her pro volleyball path