Upcoming road games key for Mean Green volleyball’s goals
Ehsan Azad / Staff Writer
After its first home loss last weekend, the Mean Green volleyball team look to get back on track against the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Poor passing was one of the reasons the team lost to Marshall University last weekend, something head coach Andrew Palileo harked on in practice.
“They served a little bit tougher and we didn’t respond to that,” Palileo said. “That got us out of our system and then they played into what they wanted us to do.”
After dropping the home game, the team knows it must win on the road to win Conference USA or get to the NCAA tournament. Junior outside hitter Eboni Godfrey said matches away from home are one of the biggest challenges for the team.
“[It’s] winning and being really competitive on the road,” Godfrey said.
Historically, UNT has had little success against its weekend opponents. The team has played UAB (14-9, 3-3) just once, a loss in 1993. Meanwhile, the University of Texas at San Antonio (13-7, 5-1) holds an all-time record of 13-7, most recently a five-set win in 2010.
Both teams bring specific challenges to the Mean Green. Palileo said UAB is dangerous because of a fast offense, while UTSA impressed him with its consistency.
As for the road struggles, Palileo said the team must play better and that the coaching staff should prepare them better for any struggles they might face.
Sophomore outside hitter Analisse Shannon said it’s simply a matter of going on the court, focusing and executing their game plan. She also has personal ties to the UTSA game.
“I played with their outside hitter Mackenzie Adams, who’s 6-3,” Shannon said. “I played with her at club and high school. She’s a big player we’re going to look at.”
Both Shannon and fellow sophomore outside hitter Carnae Dillard see the UTSA game as a homecoming since both went to Johnson High School in San Antonio.
UNT travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face off against UAB at 7 p.m. on Friday before facing off against the University of Texas at San Antonio for Sunday’s game at 1 p.m.
Junior outside hitter Hanna Frost spikes the ball during a home game against Marshall on Oct. 13. Feature photo by Margaret Saucedo / Intern
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