DENTON, Texas - North Texas head volleyball coach Ken Murczek says that spring play is more about learning than results. But after last weekend in Fort Worth, it looks like the first-year coach saw lots of both in a full day of action against top competition.
"I couldn't be happier with the way we played this weekend," Murczek said. "The progress we have made this spring has been unbelievable, and it makes me really eager for this fall's schedule. We really don't measure wins and losses in the spring, but these girls have really gotten rolling against some tough teams."
The Mean Green opened the festivities by rolling Houston 2-0. It was the second win for North Texas over Conference USA's Cougars this spring.
NT stepped up the competition in the afternoon, taking on Kansas and TCU, which closed the 2009 season ranked 53rd and 38th in the RPI respectively. However, the results didn't change much.
Led by a terrific all-around effort, NT took the first set off the Jayhawks, and nearly took the second as well. NT trailed the set by five points before tying the frame at 23 apiece. Unfortunately, a KU block ended the match and earned a split for the Big XII squad.
TCU, which played in the NCAA Tournament last year, knocked off the Mean Green 2-0, but both sets were hotly contested. The Horned Frogs took the first set 25-22 and the second set 25-21.
North Texas, which is 5-3-2 so far this spring, will return to the friendly confines of the Mean Green Volleyball Center on Thursday for a rare spring match versus UT Arlington. The match is slated for 4 p.m., and will be the fans' only opportunity to see NT in action until this fall.
