Volleyball extends winning streak to four
Faye Darku / Intern Writer
The Mean Green volleyball team is now on a four game winning streak after defeating Middle Tennessee State University a five set win (21-25, 25-14, 25-15, 22-25, 15-12) Friday night on the road.
In the first set both teams were evenly matched in attacks and kills. There were five ties and two lead changes, but ultimately the Mean Green lost the first set.
“We didn’t come out our strongest,” sophomore setter Amy Henard said. “We should have been stronger and it kind of took us a while to find our rhythm.”
During the second set the team began to find that rhythm between setter Henard and junior outside hitter Carnae Dillard. Dillard led the team with 19 kills and 49 attacks in the first and second sets. The Mean Green won the second set with the biggest lead of the game.
“The second set was really good for us,” Dillard said. “We were able to settle down and everyone began to work together. Setter’s were doing a good job and so were the hitters.”
The Mean Green kept the energy going into the third set and dominated. After a Mean Green time out the team came back with kills from the outside hitter position and a block to take the third set (25-15). An attack error by Middle Tennessee and a 7-0 run won the set for the Mean Green.
“Winning the third set really gave us confidence,” Dillard said. “Letting us know we can make a run to the top especially with a conference game coming up.”
Middle Tennessee came out more aggressive during the fourth set after going down two straight sets. Their leading scorer, junior Chelsea Ross, gave the Mean Green a tough time at the outside position getting 17 kills and 20 digs.
“In the fourth set we got into a funk,” senior outside hitter Hanna Forst said. “We were not playing team defense.”
By now the match was tied a two sets a piece. At the start of the fifth set Middle Tennessee had an early lead 9-7, but North Texas went on an 8-3 to take the fifth set and the match.
The Mean Green will play again Nov. 2 against University of Alabama – Birmingham at 1 p.m on the road.
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