NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 10, 2023) – Graduate libero Luana Bulara achieved a career milestone for North Alabama on Friday in Nashville, recording her 1,000th dig in the third set of a competitive 3-0 loss to Lipscomb.

Bulara — a transfer from Barry University — finished with a game-high 16 digs to go with four assists. The 16 assists officially puts her at 402 on the season and 1,002 for her career. In addition to tonight's performance, Bulara was also voted the ASUN Play of the Week this for a pancake last weekend.

As far as the match, UNA moves to 16-11 overall with an 8-7 record in Atlantic Sun Conference matches. Meanwhile, Lipscomb improves to 22-5 overall with an 14-2 ASUN Conference record to remain second in the ASUN standings.

A battle between two teams that will compete in the ASUN Championship tournament next week, the first set brought fireworks. The Bisons went on to win a dramatic first frame, 31-29, in what proved to be UNA's longest set of the season.

The second and third sets went back-and-forth, but ultimately, Lipscomb pulled away to win in three. Graduate middle blocker Mattrice Harris led the way for North Alabama with a season-high nine kills, while reigning ASUN Volleyball Player of the Week Anna Kathrine Griggs tallied a game-high six blocks on the night.

The Lions and Bisons battled early in set one, with UNA fighting their way back from two early deficits. Lipscomb built a 12-8 lead, thanks to a 4-0 run with the score tied at eight, and then extended the lead to 16-11. Three-straight kills from junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz sparked UNA's own 4-0 run to cut the deficit to one as the teams continued to battle well into the set. With the Bisons up 23-20, Harris and sophomore outside hitter Hayley Martin ignited a second 4-0 run from the Lions to flip the script with set point in hand. Lipscomb scored the ensuing point to take it in to extras, with both teams trading points up to a 29-29 tie. A kill and service ace ended it in favor of the home team, 31-29

The second set continued the trend of the first set, with the two teams trading points with neither able to separate until the midway point. The Lions regained the lead 14-13 with a Harris kill and a service ace from junior outside hitter Katy Floyd. Two 3-0 runs from Lipscomb created the difference as both teams had their most efficient attacking set of the match, with Lipscomb hitting 50 percent to North Alabama's 48 percent. The Bisons took set two, 25-20.

North Alabama started set three hot, as Martin and freshman outside hitter Avery Markham paced the Lions in a 5-0 lead. The Bisons responded with a run of their own, running off four-straight points to cut their deficit to one. Although Floyd, Tietz and freshman outside hitter Olivia Fenoff attempted to spark a comeback down midway in the set, Lipscomb won the clincher 25-19.

The Lions travel to Clarksville, Tenn. Tomorrow for the regular season finale to face Austin Peay. First serve is set for 6 p.m.