CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 15, 2023) – University of North Alabama Volleyball traveled to Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday to take on Queens and earned a three-set road victory over the Royals in an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup.
The Lions' record moves to 11-9 overall, including a 3-5 record in ASUN matches. UNA heads into the second half of conference play tied for eighth place alongside Jacksonville and will play five of the final eight matches in the friendly confines of CB&S Bank Arena. Meanwhile, Queens drops to 4-16 overall and 0-8 in league play.
Graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs and junior outside hitter Katy Floyd tied the team-high for the Lions in kills with eight, while senior setter Kennedey Johnson led the way in assists with 15. There was a three-way tie in blocks with Griggs, freshman outside/right side hitter Nicole Sargent and graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan all contributing three blocks, and graduate libero Luana Bulara had a match-high 27 digs. Sargent's three blocks and Bulara's 27 digs tied their career highs, respectively.
Competitive early, the Lions used an 8-1 run late in the first set to overcome a deficit and to seize momentum for the rest of the match. A dominant second set was followed by a closer third set, but the Royals could not overcome the attack from UNA and their own unforced errors en route to the Lions breaking a five-match skid in ASUN play.
In the competitive first set, North Alabama jumped out to an early 10-7 lead before the Royals answered with a four-point run. The set went back-and-forth until a 7-1 run from Queens brought their lead to five with the score at 22-17. From there, Griggs had three kills and a solo block to help ignite an 8-1 run, overcoming the deficit and taking the first set, 25-23.
The Lions started strong in set two, as UNA built a 4-1 lead off three errors from the Royals and a block from Griggs and Sargent. With a 14-10 lead, the Lions went on a 4-0 run, with each point coming from a Griggs kill, service ace from freshman Avery Markham, a Royals' error and second block from Sargent/Griggs combo. UNA would dominate the rest of the set, with North Alabama ending the set on a 7-2 run to win it, 25-13.
Set three began with both teams exchanging points before the Lions were able to develop a 9-5 cushion. The Royals proved to make it a more competitive set, answering with a 4-0 run to tie the score at 9-9. Neither team could muster more than a one-point advantage until a four-point run by UNA, capped Johnson's kill after a 40 second rally, helped build a 21-17 lead. One more point from the Royals would be overshadowed by a 4-1 run from the Lions to win the set 25-18, and get North Alabama back in the win column with a three-set sweep.
The Lions will return to CB&S Bank Arena for a two-match weekend starting on Friday, Oct. 20 against North Florida at 6 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
