Mean Green Volleyball falls to No. 2 Wisconsin in all three sets
The North Texas volleyball team lost in three straight sets to the No. 2 nationally ranked University of Wisconsin Badgers. The loss on Sunday marked the eighth consecutive loss for the Mean Green.
North Texas started out the season by winning all three games of their tournament. Lately, however, North Texas hasn’t been able to find its groove as they now sit with an overall record of 3-8.
Head coach Andrew Palileo said the team is struggling with its youth and the injuries from the past two weeks. Starting outside hitter Barbara Teakell has been out for a couple of weeks with a foot injury. She is expected to be back either later this week or for the first conference game.
“I never like to make excuses, but we have run into a little bit of youth and a little bit of injury,” Palielo said. “We’re slowly getting it back and starting to come together, so I think we’ll be good by the time conference play starts.”
The Badgers won the first set over North Texas 25-20. The Mean Green competed, always staying within one to two points until Wisconsin got ahead at the end.
Freshman Rhett Robinson led the way for the Mean Green in the first set with seven kills. Senior Jordyn Williams and senior setter Karley York also had one block each during the first set.
The second and third sets also went the Badgers way, as they won them 25-13 and 25-20, respectively.
Robinson finished with a team-high 14 kills, and Williams led the Mean Green with two blocks. York finished her afternoon with 26 assists.
Williams said the game against Wisconsin was a challenge, but they needed to play an elite team because it shows North Texas what they need to start fixing.
“I feel like we did a lot of good things today,” Williams said. “Wisconsin is a really good opponent, and they showed us what we need to do.”
Although the last two weeks have been rough for North Texas, Palileo said he feels as if his team has been playing better each and every day.
“I feel like we’re playing well and on an upward trend right now,” Palielo said. “We could’ve done a little bit better today, but I am also excited about a lot of things I saw as well. We’re slowly becoming healthy again, and I just think we have been playing a lot better recently.”
North Texas is hosting a tournament this coming week from Thursday through Saturday. The Mean Green will play Mississippi State on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Featured Image: Sophomore outside hitter Barbara Teakell sets the ball over the net in a game against Kent State. Rachel Walters
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