University of North Texas Athletics
Volleyball Begins Quest For C-USA Tournament Title
11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON - Coming off its first regular season conference championship in school history, the North Texas volleyball team prepares for the Conference USA Volleyball Championship as the top seed. The Mean Green take on Marshall in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Friday at the Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky.
"I think we've felt a target on our backs all year, because everyone wants to play their best game against us," junior setter Karley York said. "I don't think we're taking any team lightly. The theme of the week is to do what we do best."
North Texas improved their all-time record against the Thundering Herd to 4-3 with a straight-set victory in Huntington, W.Va., earlier this month. Senior middle blocker Amanda Chamberlain led the team with 13 kills at a .650 clip in the match.
The win over Marshall was one of 15 sweeps for the Mean Green this season, but with how dominant they've been, Chamberlain acknowledges that the team can continue to get better.
"I think we need to be a little more aggressive, especially at the start of the game, and show teams who the dominant team is" Chamberlaind said.
With advancement, North Texas would face the winner of No. 4 UT San Antonio and No. 5 Florida Atlantic at 4 p.m. Saturday. The second-seed Western Kentucky drew No. 7 Charlotte in the first round, and the winner of that match will take on the winner of No. 3 Rice and No. 6 Southern Miss in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
WKU, Charlotte and Southern Miss are the only teams to take the Mean Green to five sets this season, and North Texas wouldn't have to face either until the championship game at noon on Sunday.
"We've talked about it, but I feel like the teams are so even across the bracket that anything could happen," York said. "As long as we come out and do what we do, we'll be fine."
Championship Central
Championship Bracket
