ARLINGTON, Texas – The Northwestern State volleyball team lost in four sets to the North Texas Mean Green (25-18, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-13) Saturday at the UTA-UNT Classic.

The Demons (1-10) competed hard all match long as they fell behind in the first set, 14-7. However, NSU responded with a 7-1 run to trim the North Texas lead to 15-14 after an ace by Emmarie McFarland. The Mean Green (6-2) responded with 10-4 of their own to put the opening set away.

In the second set, the Demons continued to show the growth they made all week as they came back from a 21-17 hole to win the set 25-23.  NSU went on a 7-1 run to take a 24-22 lead before closing out the set on an attack error by the Mean Green.

The Demons maintained the momentum they had at the end of the second set as they had a 18-16 lead late in the third set. However, the Mean Green finished the set on a 9-1 run highlighted by six kills.

In the fourth set, North Texas started on 5-0 run setting the tone. NSU tried to rally by cutting the lead to 10-7. But three was as close as the Demons would get the rest of the way as UNT scored 15 of the last 21 points on its way to the win.

The Demons were led by Deja Benjamin with season-high 15 kills. Elsie Sanchez Oliver added 11 kills. Reagan Hamm had 22 assists while McFarland finished with 11 digs.