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With big hitters like Courtney Windham and Carnae Dillard on
the roster it’s easy to see how someone could overlook a player like Analisse Shannon. At .75 kills per set on the year, her stats won’t wow anyone, but her
story and her resurgence have been a major part of North Texas’ success over
the last month.
A knee injury in her final club volleyball match kept the feisty
freshman out of the 2011 season, but as her knee returns to full strength, this
San Antonio product is giving head coach Ken Murczek exactly what he needs at
exactly the right time – another option to keep Mean Green opponents guessing.
Shannon spent most of the first month of the season adjusting
to the speed of Division I volleyball and getting her knee back into playing
shape. Her first nine matches attest to the adjustment period, as she posted
just two kills on -.143 hitting.
But as the strength returned to her knee, Shannon’s game
took off. In North Texas’ last 11 matches, Shannon is averaging 1.03 kills per
set on .420 hitting. It’s no coincidence that the Mean Green is 9-2 over that
span, as opposing defenses are now forced to account for yet another confident Mean
Green attacker.
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