FLORENCE, Ala. (October 20, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team opened up their two-match weekend at home against North Florida on Friday, defeating the Ospreys in four sets in an Atlantic Sun Conference match inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall.
The Lions' improved their record to 12-9 overall with a 4-5 record in ASUN matches. North Alabama's offense led the way, as junior outside hitter Katy Floyd, sophomore outside hitter Hayley Martin and graduate middle blocker all finished with double figure kills with 14, 13 and 10, respectively. Griggs finished with a .455 hitting percentage, which led all players with more than five attacks, while Martin followed at .417.
Two Lions set career highs on the night as senior setter Kennedey Johnson registered four service aces, and graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan tallied seven digs on the night, including five in the first frame.
Griggs, junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz and Sullivan finished with game-highs in blocks with six, three and two, respectively, and Johnson had a team-high 27 assists. Graduate libero Luana Bulara was the team leader in digs with 16 to go with her five assists on the night.
Recapping the action, the Lions took control early, jumping out to a 10-6 lead after a four-point run in set one. The Ospreys worked their way back to cut the deficit at 15-12 before using a 4-0 run out of the media timeout to take a one-point lead. UNA was able to jump back in the lead with a 5-3 run to go up 20-19, but UNF finished the set with a 6-3 run to take the first set, 25-22. There were 11 ties and six lead changes in the opening frame.
A more competitive second set began with the Ospreys gaining the early advantage at 7-5. Three attack errors from North Florida and kills from Anna Katherine Griggs and Brenna Tietz saw the first lead change of the set, as a 5-0 run put the Lions up three. Quick to respond, the Ospreys answered with a 4-0 run, but not without UNA matching with a 4-0 run of their own to make the score 14-11. An exchange of five points from both teams saw the set come down to the wire, but Katy Floyd's kill at 20-20 helped jumpstart 5-3 run to put North Alabama in the match with a 25-23 set win.
Griggs, Hayley Martin and Floyd set the tone with four kills to start the third set before two more kills from Floyd gave UNA the early 6-1 advantage. North Florida would counter with a 9-5 run to cut the Lion lead to one, but Floyd's three kills helped pace the Lions' attack to extend the lead to four. With the score 18-14 in North Alabama's favor, UNF went on a 5-0 run to gain their first lead of the set at 19-18. UNA's offense would dominate the Ospreys for the remainder of the set, as kills from Martin and Floyd and two aces from Kennedey Johnson pushed the Lions to a 25-20 third-set win.
Another early North Alabama run began the fourth set, highlighted by another two service aces from Johnson to put the Lions up 5-0. Two more kills from Hayley Martin extended the lead for UNA, as a 5-3 run made it 10-4 early in set four. The Ospreys would not be able to overcome the attack of UNA, as the six-point lead slowly built to as much as 12 for the Lions. Seven errors, along with seven kills from North Alabama, proved to be the difference maker as UNA would win the fourth set by the largest margin of the match with a 25-13 win. The Lions never surrendered the lead in the fourth set and only allowed one point during a UNF serve.
The Lions continue their return to CB&S Bank Arena with a bout against Jacksonville on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.
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