Volleyball Secures Comeback Win over FAU in Conference Opener

Friday, September 25

Denton, Texas

6 PM CT

University of North Texas

8-4,1-0American

Florida Atlantic

7-5,0-1American

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Fla. Atlantic	16	25	25	26	11	2
North Texas	25	17	21	28	15	3

Volleyball Secures Comeback Win over FAU in Conference Opener

9/25/2026 11:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DENTON, Texas – The UNT volleyball team opened American Conference play with a thrilling five-set victory (25-16, 17-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-11) over Florida Atlantic on Friday night at the UNT Volleyball Center.

For the second consecutive match, the Mean Green overcame a late deficit to win in dramatic fashion. They have now won five of their past six contests to improve to 8-4 on the season, including a 1-0 mark against league competition.

"When we do it right, we're pretty good," head coach Dave Fleming said. "FAU is a really good team, so that's going to be a huge win for us come the end of the conference schedule… I don't think it was perfect, but it doesn't have to be."

North Texas struck the first blow as it opened the match on a 12-3 run and cruised to a 25-16 set-one victory. In that frame, the Mean Green hit .333 as a team while holding Florida Atlantic to just .074. The Owls responded in a big way, however, taking each of the following two sets to put UNT's back against the wall.

On a night full of momentum shifts, UNT then battled through a wild fourth set that saw it fight off match point and come out victorious by a score of 28-26. North Texas carried that momentum into the final period, making several key plays down the stretch to secure the match.

Three Mean Green players finished the night with double-digit kills, including a match-high 16 from outside hitter Lillian Croshaw who did so on a .343 hitting percentage. Over her past six matches, Croshaw is averaging 3.04 kills per set while hitting .361. Jahniya Jackson and Reagan Bedell were not far behind with 16 and 12 kills apiece.

Alexa Hayes also provided a significant boost off the bench. She was crucial in the fourth-set victory, scoring three of the team's final four points, and completed the night with six kills alongside a pair of blocks.

At the setter position, Sidney Soria commanded the Mean Green offense as she compiled her third double-double of the season through 30 assists and 15 digs. Meanwhile, libero Alessandra Romo held down the back row defense while recording 26 digs of her own, which set a new career high.

North Texas completes its five-match homestand Sunday at 1 p.m. against Tulane. Live streaming options will be on available on ESPN+ with Owen Simpson and Hek'ma Harrison on the call.