University of North Texas Athletics
University of North Texas
1-0,0-0American
CSU Bakersfield
1-1,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Bakersfield | 28 | 14 | 25 | 20 | 1 |
| North Texas | 30 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Defeats CSU Bakersfield in Season Opener
8/28/2026 10:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE, Texas – The UNT volleyball team opened its 2026 season with a four-set victory (30-28, 25-14, 20-25, 25-20) over CSU Bakersfield Friday night at the ACU Invitational.
"Got the first one under our belt," head coach Dave Fleming said. "It was a good team win. We played a little tight, like it was our first match in a while. Jahniya Jackson stepped up and played great, as did Alessandra Romo and Dakota Mitchell."
The North Texas offense was led by Jahniya Jackson and Reagan Bedell, who racked up 15 and 12 kills apiece. Fellow outside hitter Jocelyn Jourdan also shined in her Mean Green debut as she added eight kills, including the first-set winner, on a team-best .261 hitting percentage.
At the setter position, Sidney Soria collected her seventh double-double ever with a career-high 33 assists and 10 digs while freshman Olivia Branum contributed a 15-assist, 14-dig double-double in her first collegiate action.
Receiving the start at libero was Alessandra Romo, who held down the back row defense and set a career-high of 20 digs. At the net, middle blocker Addison Achilles completed the night with five kills and six total blocks, good for the second-best total of her career.
Friday's action began with a thrilling opening set in which UNT held a 24-17 lead before the Roadrunners rattled off eight consecutive points to extend the set. North Texas ultimately regained its footing to pull out the 30-28 victory, which marked the program's first time scoring 30 points in a set since 2024.
UNT then took control of the match when it dominated the second set, 25-14. CSU Bakersfield rallied to capture the third set, but it was not enough as the Mean Green slammed the door with a 25-20 win in the fourth.
North Texas concludes play at the ACU Invitational Saturday with a doubleheader against Lamar and host Abilene Christian. The first match starts at 1 p.m., while the finale is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
