The Bearkats kept their 2011 winning streak alive Friday with a four-set victory over host North Texas in Sam Houston's first match at the UNT Eagle Invitational.

The SHSU women defeated North Texas 25-17 25-22 23-25 25-20. Sam Houston will play Cincinnati and Oklahoma Saturday afternoon.

Kim Black led the Kats with 11 kills and Haley Neisler posted 10. Sam Houston shared the scoring as Kellie Stewart totaled nine kills, Kendall Cleveland eight and Carli Kolbe seven.

As Sam Houston has done in each of its matches so far in 2011, the Kats started strong winning the first two sets. SHSU took control early in the first set, winning four straight points on Kym Loving's serve at 8-8. Sam Houston won 17 of the last 26 points in the set.

The second set was closer with eight lead changes, but SHSU surged ahead again to build a 23-15 lead. A late North Texas rally allowed the Eagles to come within three points before the Kats went up two sets to one. The surge gave UNT momentum to take the third set.

But the Kats iced the victory with a strong fourth set finish after building a 17-14 lead after several early lead changes.

Loving ended the match with 43 assists. Neisler and Black led the front line defense with six and five blocks, respectively.