DENTON – The University of North Texas volleyball team secured a 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20) victory over UAB Sunday afternoon at the UNT Volleyball Centre, rebounding from a Friday loss to Charlotte.
The Mean Green (11-3,1-1 American Conference) overcame a strong UAB performance (7-7,0-2) to earn the four-set win. Sophomore Lilly Croshaw led all players with a career-high 14 kills, while Alexa Washington contributed nine kills, 19 assists, two aces, eight digs, adn four blocks.
“I’m proud of the way [the team] responded,” head coach Dave Fleming said. “UAB scared me on video, just with all the physicality in their arms.So, I’m really proud of how we responded, especially after kind of taking it on the chin on Friday.”
The first set saw a close contest until a 5-1 run by UNT closed it out, capped by a block assist and set-winning kill from middle blocker Loredana Fouonji. North Texas dominated the second set, fueled by an 11-2 run and six kills on eight attacks from outside hitter Reagan Bedell, who secured the set win. UAB responded in the third, opening with a five-point run and closing with a six-point spell to take the set.
The fourth set featured eight service aces for UNT,including two from freshman Sidney Soria,who also recorded five assists while Washington added three kills.
“We love playing at home,” Croshaw said. “I feel like it’s definitely a home court advantage for us. We get to practise and play in our gym,and then with the crowd,it helps us out a lot.”
“The close games are always … more fun,” Washington said. “It’s nice to sweep people or win by 10, but these games are so much more fun because you’re competing, and you really have to work for it.”
The Mean green will next travel to Florida Atlantic (10-5, 1-1) for a 5 p.m. CT match on Friday,broadcast on ESPN+ from Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
