CONWAY, Ark. (October 25, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team won its second match against the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears, sweeping the season series on the road in Conway, Ark. and extending its winning streak to four matches in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
The win improved UNA's record to 14-9 overall with a winning 6-5 record in ASUN matches. The victory also set a new program record for most wins in a single season in the Division I era of UNA Volleyball. The 14 wins are the most since UNA went 27-8 in 2017 — the last year of Division II.
North Alabama dictated the first set with a 10-point win before the Sugar Bears made it an even match with a 25-19 second set win. After being down for the majority of the third set, the Lions outscored UCA 16-8 to stun the home team in the third set en route to finishing it off in the fourth set.
Graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs led the way in kills with 13 with a .478 attack percentage, as she continues to pace the ASUN in kill percentage. Three players finished with nine kills as reigning ASUN Volleyball Player of the Week Katy Floyd, junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz and sophomore outside hitter Hayley Martin all fell one shy of double-digit kills.
Senior setter Kennedey Johnson and junior setter Elif Ozsoy finished the night with 19 and 18 assists, respectively, while freshman outside hitter Avery Markham had a team-high three service aces. Tietz and graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan tied with a high in blocks with 1.5, while graduate libero Luana Bulara proved solid on the backline with a team-leading 22 digs.
UNA jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in set one, with Griggs tallying three early kills. The Lions would extend the lead to a comfortable eight point margin with a 10-6 run, as Floyd, Sullivan, Martin and Nicole Sargent joined the attack party. At 14-6, Central Arkansas went on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to three, but a 5-0 run from the North Alabama once again gave the Lions a sizeable lead. After a third dig/kill in as many matches from Elif Ozsoy, UNA secured set one with 25-15 win.
The Sugar Bears would be the aggressors in set two, as UCA started with a 5-0 run. Griggs and Avery Markham responded with a kill and ace, respectively, and sparked a 4-1 run to bring the match to 6-4. A second run by the Sugar Bears extended the lead to 12-6, but the Lions fought back to cut the lead to 14-12, capping a 6-2 run. For the third time in the set, UCA would go on a run, this time a 6-0 run, to extend to 18-12 with set point near. Despite the deficit, North Alabama would come within three of tying at 21-18, but the Sugar Bears held on to take set two, 25-19.
The third set proved to be the most competitive, but after exchanging points early, Central Arkansas worked up a 12-7 lead. With the Sugar Bears leading 17-11, the Lions sparked a 7-1 run, with kills from Griggs, Martin and Floyd and two service aces from Sargent. Both teams exchanged the next two points before 4-2 run had the Sugar Bears within a point of taking set three. Griggs and Sullivan came up in the big moment with a respective kill and service ace before Brenna Tietz's kill helped the Lions take set three, 27-25.
Starting fast was the name of the game for North Alabama in the fourth set, as the Lions controlled the set with an 8-1 lead. Central Arkansas marched their way back from the deficit with a 7-2 run to make the score 10-8, setting up a battle between the teams in the middle of the set. The Sugar Bears would outscore UNA 9-7 to eventually tie the match at 17 as the UCA proved to have plenty of match left in them. North Alabama responded by outscoring the Sugar Bears 6-3, as Floyd's two service aces and one kill paced the offense to eventually take the set 25-20 in a four-set victory.
With the lone away midweek match coming to a close, the Lions return home to CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall for the next three matches, starting with a bout with ASUN Conference-leading FGCU on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
