Kills-Leading Carnae Guides Team Into North Texas Invitational

Sept. 11, 2015

North Texas Invitational

Mean Green Volleyball Center | Denton, TX

September 11-12, 2015

Tournament Central

North Texas Match Notes

DENTON - One week can do a lot for a volleyball team, and the case is no different for North Texas. In just seven days, the Mean Green seized its first win over Oklahoma since 2001 and has jumped out to a 1-0 start in Conference USA play. Now, with a bit of momentum under its belt, North Texas heads into the weekend looking to add more wins to its 4-4 record in one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year - the fifth-annual North Texas Invitational.

Carnae Dillard, this week's C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, has been the catalyst for a Mean Green team that has gone 3-1 over its last four matches. The senior outside hitter has notched 85 kills (5.32 k/s), 45 digs (2.81 d/s) and a .241 attack percentage during that span.

But on-the-court production is not something that's new to Dillard. In fact, it's simply impossible to acknowledge the statistical impact that the star has for the Mean Green.

For one, there's not a single active woman in Division-I volleyball that has more career kills than Carnae Dillard. Not a single one. She currently leads C-USA in kills (168, 5.25 k/s) and points (178.5, 5.58 pts/s), and she's notched five double-doubles in only eight games played this season.

Dillard now prepares to lead the Mean Green into her final North Texas Invitational tonight. The team kicks off its tournament slate with a 7 p.m. matchup against Boise State from the Mean Green Volleyball Center.

vs. Boise State Broncos (3-3, 0-0 Mountain West)
September 11, 2015 | 7:00 p.m.
Boise State Notes

The Broncos enter Friday's contest having never lost to North Texas, as the team holds a 9-0 advantage in the all-time series. Boise State is led by sophomore Sierra Nobley, who set Bronco and Mountain West freshman records in kills last season. Nobley has continued that momentum, averaging 4.95 k/s in 2015. Middle blockers Maddy O'Donnell and Kaitlyn Oliver will also be worth watching, as they average 2.65 and 2.60 k/s, respectively.

vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats (0-7, 0-0 Southland)
September. 12, 2015 | 11:00 a.m.

Head coach Andrew Palileo and the Mean Green have been able to find success against the Wildcats, as North Texas knocked off Abilene Christian in two meetings last year. In 2015, the Wildcats are trying to get on the winning track as they enter the weekend with a 0-7 record. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Loerch leads the team as she is averaging 3.55 k/s this season.

vs. Houston Cougars (5-1, 0-0 AAC)
September 12, 2015 7:00 p.m.
Houston Notes

North Texas handled the Cougars in the last meeting between the two teams, but Houston holds the advantage in the all-time series. In 2015, Houston enters the weekend with a 5-1 record on the year, meaning Saturday's contest could be a tight one. Brookah Palmer, a freshman from nearby Carrolton, is averaging 4.78 k/s to lead the team.

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