TULSA, Okla. (9/4/04) The North Texas volleyball team (0-4) was unable to pick up a victory at the ORU Classic this weekend, finishing the tournament 0-3 after setbacks to Kansas and Loyola-Chicago on Saturday.
North Texas caught a tough Kansas team in its first match of the day, but its second of the tournament. The Jayhawks, who received votes in the preseason top-25 poll, defeated the Mean Green in three games (30-19, 30-18, 30-21) to remain undefeated on the season at 3-0.
Kansas had just 10 more kills than the Mean Green, but hit .393 in comparison to NT’s .049 attack percentage. The Jayhawks also used eight blocks and recorded 34 digs to limit the Mean Green’s offense.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Lawrence recorded eight kills to lead the Mean Green in the stat for the second time in the team’s first three matches. Freshman setter Ashley Bass saw her first action of the season, playing in two games and finishing with a team-high 15 assists.
North Texas dropped a 3-0 (19-30, 25-30, 23-30) decision to Loyola-Chicago in its late match as well. While North Texas limited the Ramblers to a .161 hitting percentage, it hit just .061 itself and failed to place anyone in double-figure kills.
Senior Anne Pope posted a team-high nine kills and was followed by Tara Hooser with eight. Heidi Johnson posted her second double-double in the team’s first four matches, recording 27 assists and 13 digs.
“We are heading home from this tournament with a sense of what we have to do to get ready for conference play,” said North Texas head coach Cassie Headrick. “I think we learned some things at this tournament and hopefully we can grow from this experience.”
The Mean Green will return to action on Fri., Sept. 10, when it plays UTEP in its first match at the Texas Tech Tournament.
