DENTON, Texas (8/29/09) - New Mexico State swept through North Texas to snag a 3-0 win and the Mean Green Volleyball Classic title on Saturday night (25-18, 25-21, 25-14).
The Mean Green (0-3) had trouble keeping tabs on tournament MVP Krista Altermatt and all-tournament selection Kayleigh Giddens. The pair combined for 23 kills and 20 digs for the Aggies (3-0), who just missed the preseason top 25 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.
NT's Rachelle Wilson also snagged all-tournament team honors with a stellar opening weekend. The transfer from Aledo landed 19 kills on .370 hitting for the weekend, and knocked down a team high 11 blocks.
North Texas was effective up the middle all weekend. Wilson, along with NT's other middle blockers, Kati Dillard and Brittany Brown, combined for 37 kills and just nine errors on .314 hitting.
The passing game of North Texas also showed improvement against the Aggies under the direction of setter Kayla Saey. The setter entered the match in the second set and dished out 14 assists and seven digs for the Mean Green.
North Texas will return to action at cross-town rival SMU on Wednesday night at 7 p.m., and will play in the Golden Grizzly Invitational in Rochester, Mich., this weekend.
Mean Green Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team
Krista Altermatt (NMSU) - MVP
Kayleigh Giddens (NMSU)
Rachelle Wilson (North Texas)
Stephanie Robbins (UTSA)
Dana Powell (SMU)
Taylor Smith (Northern Colorado)
