Thursday, November 29
Denton, Texas
7 pm
Tulsa
19-12
1
at
3
North Texas
18-16
1
2
3
4
F
Tulsa
25
17
23
21
1
North Texas
13
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Dave Crenshaw
Golden Hurricane Falls to North Texas in Opening Round of NIVC
11/29/2018 10:14:00 PM | Volleyball
DENTON, Texas – The University of Tulsa volleyball squad (19-12, 11-7) dropped its opening round match against North Texas (18-16, 11-3) in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in Texas on Thursday night.
"I believe we took steps forward this season as a program," head coach Ryan Wills said. "Obviously we wanted to do better in the end. At Tulsa, our goal is to be in the NCAA tournament, but the NIVC was a really good opportunity for us to take steps forward and we did."
The Golden Hurricane gained momentum early in the match, as senior Rachel Moore knocked down five kills on seven swings for .714 clip. Tulsa took the first set by force, 25-13, on the back of a .367 team hitting percentage in the frame.
The Mean Green managed to rebound and secure the second stanza, 25-17. Sophomore Callie Cook hit perfect in the set, finding the floor for three kills on her three swings in the frame.
Cook maintained her hot start into the fourth set, remaining a perfect 5-5 on kills in the stanza. Despite her efforts, the Mean Green edged out TU in a back-and-forth frame, 25-23.
In the fourth and final frame, North Texas held on to clinch the set and match, 25-21. Senior Emily Thorson took over offensively for the Hurricane, hitting to the tune of five kills on a respectable .300 clip.
The senior would finish the match with her sixth double-double of her final campaign, tallying 11 kills and 15 digs in the match. She finishes her career as No. 5 in TU kills in history, accumulating 1,149 in her time with Tulsa.
"This season has been so special to me," Thorson said. "Being a senior and being surrounded by people who are so special and love the game was amazing. There's not a better team I could have picked to be a senior and go out like this with."
As a squad, the Golden Hurricane racked up 50 kills, 70 digs, 11 blocks and a .223 hitting percentage in its final match. Along with Thorson, junior setter Mariah Pardo accumulated her team-high 14th double-double in the loss, adding 42 assists and 10 digs on Thursday night. Cook would finish the match with a team season-high .750 hitting percentage, tallying 12 kills on 16 swings.
Tulsa wraps up its 2018 campaign with a 19-12 overall record, to go along with a 11-7 mark in conference play. The 19 wins marks the third time in Wills' five-year tenure the team has reach 19 victories in a season. The team also finished ahead of preseason projections at fourth overall, despite being picked sixth before the season began.
For all Tulsa volleyball news and information, visit TulsaHurricane.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"I believe we took steps forward this season as a program," head coach Ryan Wills said. "Obviously we wanted to do better in the end. At Tulsa, our goal is to be in the NCAA tournament, but the NIVC was a really good opportunity for us to take steps forward and we did."
The Golden Hurricane gained momentum early in the match, as senior Rachel Moore knocked down five kills on seven swings for .714 clip. Tulsa took the first set by force, 25-13, on the back of a .367 team hitting percentage in the frame.
The Mean Green managed to rebound and secure the second stanza, 25-17. Sophomore Callie Cook hit perfect in the set, finding the floor for three kills on her three swings in the frame.
Cook maintained her hot start into the fourth set, remaining a perfect 5-5 on kills in the stanza. Despite her efforts, the Mean Green edged out TU in a back-and-forth frame, 25-23.
In the fourth and final frame, North Texas held on to clinch the set and match, 25-21. Senior Emily Thorson took over offensively for the Hurricane, hitting to the tune of five kills on a respectable .300 clip.
The senior would finish the match with her sixth double-double of her final campaign, tallying 11 kills and 15 digs in the match. She finishes her career as No. 5 in TU kills in history, accumulating 1,149 in her time with Tulsa.
"This season has been so special to me," Thorson said. "Being a senior and being surrounded by people who are so special and love the game was amazing. There's not a better team I could have picked to be a senior and go out like this with."
As a squad, the Golden Hurricane racked up 50 kills, 70 digs, 11 blocks and a .223 hitting percentage in its final match. Along with Thorson, junior setter Mariah Pardo accumulated her team-high 14th double-double in the loss, adding 42 assists and 10 digs on Thursday night. Cook would finish the match with a team season-high .750 hitting percentage, tallying 12 kills on 16 swings.
Tulsa wraps up its 2018 campaign with a 19-12 overall record, to go along with a 11-7 mark in conference play. The 19 wins marks the third time in Wills' five-year tenure the team has reach 19 victories in a season. The team also finished ahead of preseason projections at fourth overall, despite being picked sixth before the season began.
For all Tulsa volleyball news and information, visit TulsaHurricane.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#ForOurCity
Team Stats
TLS
UNT
Kills
50
58
Errors
17
22
Attempts
148
161
Hitting %
.223
.224
Points
65.0
71.0
Assists
49
53
Aces
4
4
Blocks
11.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH/MB
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