FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 16, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball season came to a heart-breaking end Thursday night, as the Lions dropped a competitive four-set bout to No. 4 seed Kennesaw State in the opening round of the Atlantic Sun Volleyball Championship in Fort Myers, Fla. at Alico Arena.
The Lions entered the tournament following a record-breaking regular season, setting the program record for most wins in a Division I season at UNA. This season also marked UNA's first ASUN Championship appearance since the recent transition to Division I in 2018.
The second meeting between the two teams this season, the Lions came out with authority early in the match, starting strong and taking the first set 25-19. KSU would respond with a close second-set victory over the Lions before taking the third set by a larger margin. Down to their last set of the season, North Alabama and Kennesaw State remained neck-and-neck until a late run from the Owls proved to be the difference and secured the win for KSU.
The Owls advance to the ASUN Semifinal to take on the winner of No. 1 FGCU and No. 8 Bellarmine tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
The Lions led wire-to-wire to begin the first set, coming out strong with four straight points to start the match. The Owls responded with three points of their own, but North Alabama would spark a 6-0 run to expand their lead to 13-3. Reigning ASUN Freshman of the Week Nicole Sargent ignited the run, contributing two kills and a solo block to give the Lions the double-digit lead. KSU would attempt a comeback, but the 10-point deficit proved too much for the Owls to overcome. Four kills from junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz helped North Alabama hit .414 in the opening set to come out of the gates with a set one win, 25-19.
Kennesaw State would gain the upper hand early in set two with a 12-3 run. Kills from Sargent and Tietz and a solo block from First Team All-ASUN selection Anna Katherine Griggs helped the Lions cut the deficit to 15-9. Kennesaw State remained in control for the majority of the set, but the Lions ran off a 5-2 run to begin a comeback late in the frame. KSU would see the set out, taking set two, 25-20.
The third set started differently than the first and second, with both teams starting off competitive early. UNA gained an early 6-4 advantage in the set and maintained the control until KSU took the lead with a 3-0 run. Leading 11-9, the Owls used a 5-1 run to give them a six-point lead halfway through the set. Two kills from sophomore Hayley Martin and a kill from Tietz gave the Lions a sparkplug on offense, cutting the Owl lead to four points. A late 4-0 run gave Kennesaw State enough momentum to take the third set, 25-15.
Set four started with both teams exchanging the first four points, then the Owls scored four straight points to take an early 8-4 lead. The Lions came roaring back with a 6-2 run, bringing the match back even at 10 apiece. The set went back-and-forth up until the media timeout, when UNA gained a one-point lead off of a block from Tietz and graduate middle blocker Mattrice Harris.
Later, kills from Tietz and Martin made the score 19-18. Kennesaw State answered with a late 5-0 run to force set point, but kills from Sargent and Griggs held off match point for the Lions. UNA fought valiantly, but the Owls would advance to the next round with a 25-20 set win.
A highlight of the night was senior setter Kennedey Johnson, who surpassed 1,000 career assists with a 20-assist performance on the night. Griggs, Sargent and Tietz all tied a team-high with eight kills apiece, while graduate libero Luana Bulara added 19 digs.
Harris and Griggs were a formidable duo on the night, combining for 13 kills on .455 and .412 hitting percentages, and they also provided defense at the net with nine combined blocks. Martin also finished the night with four blocks to go with six kills.
A historic 2023 season comes to a close for the Lions, as UNA finishes with a four-win improvement from 2022. This season also marks the second straight improvement under second year head coach Tristan Johnson. The Lions also celebrate a new Division I program record 17 wins, the first ASUN Volleyball Championship appearance in program history and three All-ASUN team honors, including the first two all-conference team selections in school history in Griggs and third team selection Maggie Sullivan.
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