Lady Mustangs drop UNT in three games
Family weekend is unofficially underway. The Lady Mustangs gavethe parents and rowdy students something to cheer about.
The Mustangs dropped the UNT Mean Green in three straight gamesby scores of 30-14, 30-23 and 30-21. The shut-out marks UNT’sninth loss of the season.
With the exception of a quick lapse in the second game, theevening was red and blue all night. Senior middle blocker AllisonHolder was pleased with the team’s overall performance.
“We kind of let up in that second game,” Holdersaid. “Except for the part of that second game, we playedsolid all night, with a ton of confidence.”
Holder and the rest of the ladies have plenty of reason to beconfident. With this victory, the Ponies extend their current winstreak to six matches.
In the first game, the Mustangs came out firing from the start.The Ponies took an early eight to three lead and never looked back. Sophomore middle blocker Kelly Larkan led an early offensivecharge and was backed by junior outside hitter Beth Karasek, whodug just about every shot sent her way.
Head coach Lisa Seifert is extremely excited about theteam’s progress.
“The team went and made a personal commitment and decisionwithout the coaches,” Seifert said. “They set a goal,and they are holding each other accountable for reaching thatgoal.”
The teamwork paid off in the second game of the evening when thePonies found themselves trailing by seven from the start. Comingout of a UNT timeout down by four, the Mustangs regrouped and puttogether a nine to two run to take the lead. The lead was neverlost, and the Mustangs coasted to the second game victory.
The Mean Green came into the non-conference match on a two gamewin streak.
The Mustangs used a solid defensive effort and a vocal studentsection full of men’s soccer team players to dominate theevening.
Sophomore setter Jessica Mihm says games against in-state teamsare always important.
“Games like tonight become more of a rivalry,” Mihmsaid. “We want to beat all of the teams around here and beknown as the best team in the region.”
In the third match, it was more dominance from the Mustangs.
The ladies lead by as many as twelve points at two differenttimes during the game. UNT fought back to make the final score morerespectable than the match itself. The nine-point victory is justanother notch in the ladder of the Mustang volleyball program.
“We are 15th in the country in defense, and our youngplayers are playing technically sound,” Seifert said.”The entire team, one through 12, is committed to makingthings happen.”
The Mustangs play three more conference matches at homeincluding games against Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and Rice. Then thePonies head west for a road trip that includes a match againstnationally-ranked Hawaii.
“We want to prove that we are at the level to play withsome of the best teams,” Mihm said. “Nobody believed wewould do this well this year; no one knew we are as good as weare.”
