Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - The North Texas volleyball team had plenty of opportunities to take the UTA Hilton Invitational crown on Saturday night, but couldn't put the nail in the Mavericks' coffin in a 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 34-32, 16-14) loss at Texas Hall.
North Texas (8-7) saw a combined eight attempts at match point in the fourth and fifth sets against UT Arlington (6-8), which landed 18.0 total team blocks. The Mean Green racked up 102 digs - eighth most in school history - its second 100-plus dig effort of the week.
Setter Kayla Saey notched a career high with 62 assists, which is the most by a Mean Green player since Heather Maddox had 68 against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2007.
Sarah Willey and Shelley Morton were named to the all-tournament team for leading NT to a 2-1 record on the weekend. The Mean Green swept Prairie View A&M on Friday and UTEP Saturday afternoon.
Kristin Petrasic, Morton and Kayla Saey provided the defensive efforts that extended the match into the fifth. The trio tallied 28, 19 and 17 digs respectively - all career highs.
Morton was just as deadly on the offensive end of the floor with career-best 19 kills. Only Amy Huddleston's third 20 kill outing of the season was better for the Mean Green.
The UTA Hilton Invitational wraps up non-conference play for the Mean Green. NT will face Florida Atlantic and FIU on the road next weekend in the start of Sun Belt play.
