North Texas Daily

Ehsan Azad / Staff Writer

The momentum for the Mean Green volleyball team has built up as the team prepares to face Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University on the road this weekend, with tournament implications.

UNT (16-12, 8-4), in the midst of a four-game winning streak, is practicing with intensity as the team is only two games out of first place in the Conference-USA standings with just the two Florida games left to play.

“We are pretty intense,” head coach Andrew Palileo said. “It’s that sharp intensity that’s focused in on what we are doing and we are not losing focus by talking about the tournament.”

Palileo said the week has been used to focus on things the team does well and sharpen areas where it needs improvement.  The players are starting to feel the intensity of the coaching staff as well.

“We are really gelling right now and everyone is excited to play,” freshman setter Amy Henard said. “Right now as we get on the court, it feels like no team can stop us.”

Henard said that the coaching staff is just simply trying to help improve the team all around. The players have described the practices as tough, and focus has been the key message for the team.

“We are going to be on the road for the next 10 days, so we have to be really focused. That’s why these practices have been pretty cutthroat,” sophomore outside hitter Carnae Dillard said.

The test this week is playing on the road against FAU (11-15, 3-9) and FIU (11-15, 5-8), two teams that are also fighting for a chance to be in the tournament.

“We have to prove we can win on the road again and we’ve only had two wins all year on the road,” Palileo said.

The Mean Green plays FAU on Friday at 7 p.m. and faces FIU on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Feature photo: Junior outside hitter Eboni Godfrey spikes the ball as sophomore outside hitter Analisse Shannon looks on during a home game against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 29. Photo courtesy of Rick Yeatts