University of North Texas Athletics
Friday, September 21
Ruston, LA
7:00 PM
University of North Texas
at
Louisiana Tech
Mean Green Set To Begin Conference USA Play
9/20/2018 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON – After facing four teams ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll over the last six matches of non-conference play, the North Texas volleyball team opens Conference USA action on the road against Louisiana Tech and UTSA on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Mean Green, who have won nine straight over the Lady Techsters, take on LA Tech at 7 p.m. Friday at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. In their recent dominance of the Lady Techsters, UNT has surrendered just two sets while winning 27.
On Sunday, the Mean Green and Roadrunners will face off at 1 p.m. at the Convocation Center, one of two C-USA venues in which head coach Andrew Palileo hasn't won during his tenure at UNT. Since 2013, the Mean Green are 0-4 at the Convocation Center and 0-3 at Western Kentucky's Diddle Arena.
UNT is coming off a 1-3 finish in the North Texas Challenge with a five-set win over Mississippi State in the opener. The Mean Green dropped three competitive matches to [RV] Wichita State, SFA and No. 14 Cal Poly.
"Whenever you're struggling the way we're struggling, you have to continue to work hard, repair and ensure that the culture is not just about wins and losses," Palileo said.
Against SFA, freshman Rhett Robinson racked up 24 kills, the most by a North Texas player since Carnae Dillard on Nov. 20, 2015. But as soon as Robinson stepped foot on the practice court, it was in the past.
"I don't look at that and think every game's going to be like that," Robinson said. "Every game is a new game. Every opponent is different."
At the conclusion of the North Texas Challenge, the team's opponent win percentage jumped to .578, which ranks 63rd in the nation. However, the Mean Green were unable to mount an upset over one of the five ranked teams they faced.
"Our preseason was tough competition," senior setter Karley York said. "We played well at moments, but we just couldn't sustain it. I think we're excited to be 0-0 and compete at our level more consistently."
The tough stretch provided a lot of teachable moments for the team and opportunities to prove themselves against bigger and more athletic student-athletes, compared to the C-USA standard.
"I feel a little more confident in my hitters being able to produce better numbers in conference, because we won't face 6'5" blockers like in preseason," York said. "They figured out how to score against them, so playing against smaller blockers will be to our advantage."
With the slate wiped clean, York didn't skip a beat when asked if the team still has its sights set on defending a conference title.
"Absolutely."
The Mean Green, who have won nine straight over the Lady Techsters, take on LA Tech at 7 p.m. Friday at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. In their recent dominance of the Lady Techsters, UNT has surrendered just two sets while winning 27.
On Sunday, the Mean Green and Roadrunners will face off at 1 p.m. at the Convocation Center, one of two C-USA venues in which head coach Andrew Palileo hasn't won during his tenure at UNT. Since 2013, the Mean Green are 0-4 at the Convocation Center and 0-3 at Western Kentucky's Diddle Arena.
UNT is coming off a 1-3 finish in the North Texas Challenge with a five-set win over Mississippi State in the opener. The Mean Green dropped three competitive matches to [RV] Wichita State, SFA and No. 14 Cal Poly.
"Whenever you're struggling the way we're struggling, you have to continue to work hard, repair and ensure that the culture is not just about wins and losses," Palileo said.
Against SFA, freshman Rhett Robinson racked up 24 kills, the most by a North Texas player since Carnae Dillard on Nov. 20, 2015. But as soon as Robinson stepped foot on the practice court, it was in the past.
"I don't look at that and think every game's going to be like that," Robinson said. "Every game is a new game. Every opponent is different."
At the conclusion of the North Texas Challenge, the team's opponent win percentage jumped to .578, which ranks 63rd in the nation. However, the Mean Green were unable to mount an upset over one of the five ranked teams they faced.
"Our preseason was tough competition," senior setter Karley York said. "We played well at moments, but we just couldn't sustain it. I think we're excited to be 0-0 and compete at our level more consistently."
The tough stretch provided a lot of teachable moments for the team and opportunities to prove themselves against bigger and more athletic student-athletes, compared to the C-USA standard.
"I feel a little more confident in my hitters being able to produce better numbers in conference, because we won't face 6'5" blockers like in preseason," York said. "They figured out how to score against them, so playing against smaller blockers will be to our advantage."
With the slate wiped clean, York didn't skip a beat when asked if the team still has its sights set on defending a conference title.
"Absolutely."
Players Mentioned
MB/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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