Thursday, February 4
WICHITA, KS
7 PM
University of North Texas
-11,00 CUSA
0
at
3
Wichita State
4-0,0-0AAC
1
2
3
F
North Texas
18
19
12
0
Wichita St.
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Manny Flores
Mean Green fall to Wichita State
2/4/2021 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
WICHITA, KS – The North Texas volleyball team lost its 2020-21 season-opener at Wichita State on Thursday night by a score of 0-3 (18-25, 19-25, 12-25).
This was the Mean Green's first match since Nov. 29, 2019. The 432-day absence and a rollercoaster two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns took its toll on UNT.
"I think it's a combination of several things," head coach Andrew Palileo said of North Texas' opening match. "Not having our team together in the last 10 days [due to COVID-19 concerns] was a challenge. Wichita State had played three matches already, so they had a little bit of rhythm. We have to make sure and focus on getting better every day.
Junior Rhett Robinson – 2020-21 Conference USA All-Preseason Selection – led the Mean Green with nine kills. She also had a game-high 39 attacks.
"It felt good to be back out there again," Robinson said. "There were some things that I had to remember again and some things I hadn't done in over a year. I didn't realize how much I missed it. We needed this game to get back to game speed."
Sophomore Aleeyah Galdeira started at libero and led the Mean Green with 16 digs in her 2020-21 debut. Despite a solid performance from Galdeira, Palileo said North Texas' passing must improve going forward.
"We just didn't pass the ball very well, and I think that's where our problem started," Palileo said. "When you don't have that first touch going well, you're going to struggle; and that's pretty much what happened tonight."
Kaliegh Skopal and Henrianna Ibarra made their returns to the court tonight. Skopal, who made her first appearance since recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, finished with 13 digs and led the Mean Green with 17 assists. Ibarra, who made her first appearance since the 2017 season after suffering two season-ending knee injuries, added two assists and five digs.
After North Texas scored the match's first point on an error from Wichita State, the Shockers went on an 8-2 run en route to winning the first set 25-18.
North Texas wound up winning the first point of all three sets before the Shockers stormed back with long runs to sweep the Mean Green in three sets.
UNT and Wichita State will make a quick turnaround as they get set for tomorrow's 1 p.m. rematch at Charles Koch Arena.
This was the Mean Green's first match since Nov. 29, 2019. The 432-day absence and a rollercoaster two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns took its toll on UNT.
"I think it's a combination of several things," head coach Andrew Palileo said of North Texas' opening match. "Not having our team together in the last 10 days [due to COVID-19 concerns] was a challenge. Wichita State had played three matches already, so they had a little bit of rhythm. We have to make sure and focus on getting better every day.
Junior Rhett Robinson – 2020-21 Conference USA All-Preseason Selection – led the Mean Green with nine kills. She also had a game-high 39 attacks.
"It felt good to be back out there again," Robinson said. "There were some things that I had to remember again and some things I hadn't done in over a year. I didn't realize how much I missed it. We needed this game to get back to game speed."
Sophomore Aleeyah Galdeira started at libero and led the Mean Green with 16 digs in her 2020-21 debut. Despite a solid performance from Galdeira, Palileo said North Texas' passing must improve going forward.
"We just didn't pass the ball very well, and I think that's where our problem started," Palileo said. "When you don't have that first touch going well, you're going to struggle; and that's pretty much what happened tonight."
Kaliegh Skopal and Henrianna Ibarra made their returns to the court tonight. Skopal, who made her first appearance since recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, finished with 13 digs and led the Mean Green with 17 assists. Ibarra, who made her first appearance since the 2017 season after suffering two season-ending knee injuries, added two assists and five digs.
After North Texas scored the match's first point on an error from Wichita State, the Shockers went on an 8-2 run en route to winning the first set 25-18.
North Texas wound up winning the first point of all three sets before the Shockers stormed back with long runs to sweep the Mean Green in three sets.
UNT and Wichita State will make a quick turnaround as they get set for tomorrow's 1 p.m. rematch at Charles Koch Arena.
Team Stats
UNT
WSU
Kills
24
43
Errors
24
11
Attempts
115
112
Hitting %
.000
.286
Points
29
55
Assists
21
40
Aces
4
6
Blocks
1
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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