Friday, November 18
Bowling Green, KY
2:00 PM
University of North Texas
-1614,95 CUSA
3
vs
2
UAB
-1215,77 CUSA
1
2
3
4
5
F
UAB
18
25
17
25
8
2
North Texas
25
21
25
17
15
3
Volleyball Conquers C-USA Quarterfinal
11/18/2022 7:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
North Texas win first Conference USA Championship match since 2018
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Treyaunna Rush led North Texas to a 3-2 victory over UAB in the Conference USA quarterfinal match on Friday at E.A. Diddle Arena. Rush recorded 17 kills in the match, the most for a UNT player since Valerie Valerian recorded 19 in 2018.
The Mean Green defeated the Blazers in five sets, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 17-25, 15-8, to collect its first C-USA tournament win since 2018 and extend its current winning streak to four matches.
"I was impressed with our team's ability to navigate the tough moments," head coach Kristee Porter said. "We've been getting better at it all season. I'd rather it not be tough but there are lessons in adversity that we definitely need."
Aryn Johnson finished with a double-double, tallying 15 kills and 10 digs, while hitting for a .343 clip on 35 attacks and adding three blocks. Johnson and Rush combined for 32 kills which is the most for a pair of UNT players in a C-USA Championship contest since Valerie Valerian and Jordyn Williams totaled 33 in 2017.
C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Sh'Diamond Holly displayed her dominance, accumulating a match-high six blocks along with 10 kills on 17 attacks for a .588 percentage. Of the six blocks, four were block assists, pushing her season total to 121 which is second on the UNT single-season list. She also tied for fourth all-time in single-season total blocks with 151.
As a team, North Texas set a season-best mark of a .971 service percentage on 102 serves with four aces with only 3 errors. Aleeyah Galdeira and Ceci Harness led the team with 20 and 18 attempts, respectively, while neither recorded an error.
Set 1: North Texas came charging out of the gates to a quick 9-1 lead with Rush collecting three blocks and two kills. Despite charges from the opposition, UNT would maintain its advantage throughout the frame and close with a three-point rally capped by freshman Victoria Fontenot recording a set-winning ace.
Set 2: The script was reversed in the second with the Blazers pulling to an eight-point lead at the midway point of the frame. The Mean Green stunned the opposition with a 6-1 run which began with a 37-second rally that was capped with a kill from Johnson. UAB would call a timeout when North Texas cut the lead to 17-14. The two sides traded points with the Blazers taking the set, 21-25.
Set 3: Rush, Holly and Johnson opened the third with each collecting kills for an early three-point edge. UAB would keep the set within reach before a five-point UNT rally pushed the game to 19-13. Both teams would swap points until North Texas punctuated the frame with a three-point run finished by a Funmi Oladapo set-winning kill.
Set 4: The two sides traded blows in the early moments of the fourth and drew level at 9-9 before UAB began to pull away. The Blazers would go on to win the frame 17-25, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Set 5: Rush provided the burst of energy the Mean Green would need, contributing three of the first five points of the set for 5-2 lead. UAB countered by scoring a pair of kills to cut the lead to one point before a 7-1 run pushed the set to a 12-5 North Texas advantage. Taylor Litteken starred in the spell, recording two kills and an ace. Despite a late charge by the Blazers, UNT would finish the match with a three-point run capped with a kill by Rush.
Up Next: No. 4 North Texas will meet top-seeded host WKU in the C-USA Championship semifinals on Saturday at noon CT. The match can be seen live on ESPN+. The Mean Green lost to the nationally ranked Hilltoppers 3-1 at home on Oct. 14.
"We're excited to get a chance to play WKU tomorrow," Porter said. "We know we will need to play clean, aggressive volleyball but the whole season has been building to this moment. This weekend is bittersweet as it is our final time competing in Conference USA, but we want to leave everything we have on the floor."
The Mean Green defeated the Blazers in five sets, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 17-25, 15-8, to collect its first C-USA tournament win since 2018 and extend its current winning streak to four matches.
"I was impressed with our team's ability to navigate the tough moments," head coach Kristee Porter said. "We've been getting better at it all season. I'd rather it not be tough but there are lessons in adversity that we definitely need."
Aryn Johnson finished with a double-double, tallying 15 kills and 10 digs, while hitting for a .343 clip on 35 attacks and adding three blocks. Johnson and Rush combined for 32 kills which is the most for a pair of UNT players in a C-USA Championship contest since Valerie Valerian and Jordyn Williams totaled 33 in 2017.
C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Sh'Diamond Holly displayed her dominance, accumulating a match-high six blocks along with 10 kills on 17 attacks for a .588 percentage. Of the six blocks, four were block assists, pushing her season total to 121 which is second on the UNT single-season list. She also tied for fourth all-time in single-season total blocks with 151.
As a team, North Texas set a season-best mark of a .971 service percentage on 102 serves with four aces with only 3 errors. Aleeyah Galdeira and Ceci Harness led the team with 20 and 18 attempts, respectively, while neither recorded an error.
Set 1: North Texas came charging out of the gates to a quick 9-1 lead with Rush collecting three blocks and two kills. Despite charges from the opposition, UNT would maintain its advantage throughout the frame and close with a three-point rally capped by freshman Victoria Fontenot recording a set-winning ace.
Set 2: The script was reversed in the second with the Blazers pulling to an eight-point lead at the midway point of the frame. The Mean Green stunned the opposition with a 6-1 run which began with a 37-second rally that was capped with a kill from Johnson. UAB would call a timeout when North Texas cut the lead to 17-14. The two sides traded points with the Blazers taking the set, 21-25.
Set 3: Rush, Holly and Johnson opened the third with each collecting kills for an early three-point edge. UAB would keep the set within reach before a five-point UNT rally pushed the game to 19-13. Both teams would swap points until North Texas punctuated the frame with a three-point run finished by a Funmi Oladapo set-winning kill.
Set 4: The two sides traded blows in the early moments of the fourth and drew level at 9-9 before UAB began to pull away. The Blazers would go on to win the frame 17-25, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Set 5: Rush provided the burst of energy the Mean Green would need, contributing three of the first five points of the set for 5-2 lead. UAB countered by scoring a pair of kills to cut the lead to one point before a 7-1 run pushed the set to a 12-5 North Texas advantage. Taylor Litteken starred in the spell, recording two kills and an ace. Despite a late charge by the Blazers, UNT would finish the match with a three-point run capped with a kill by Rush.
Up Next: No. 4 North Texas will meet top-seeded host WKU in the C-USA Championship semifinals on Saturday at noon CT. The match can be seen live on ESPN+. The Mean Green lost to the nationally ranked Hilltoppers 3-1 at home on Oct. 14.
"We're excited to get a chance to play WKU tomorrow," Porter said. "We know we will need to play clean, aggressive volleyball but the whole season has been building to this moment. This weekend is bittersweet as it is our final time competing in Conference USA, but we want to leave everything we have on the floor."
Team Stats
UAB
UNT
Kills
67
57
Errors
27
14
Attempts
169
146
Hitting %
.237
.295
Points
78
72
Assists
64
54
Aces
7
4
Blocks
4
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballM
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
M
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