JONESBORO, Ark. (August 25, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team opened their 2023 season with a strong 2-0 start, defeating both Louisiana Tech and Little Rock in the opening day of the A-State Invitational.

Opening with the first match of the day, the Lions (2-0, 0-0) got off to a hot start with two early set victories over the Lady Techsters (0-2, 0-0) by scores of 25-23 and 25-17. Louisiana Tech fought back with two straight set victories of their own, winning 25-15 and 25-17, before moving to a third set. It would go to a final set before UNA ultimately pulled away in the final set, seizing a 15-11 victory to take first match, 3-2.

In game two against the Trojans, North Alabama opened the match by taking the first set 25-20 before finding themselves trailing by as many as three in the second. The Lions would fight their way back to take the lead and set 25-20 before winning the third set 25-17 to move to 2-0 on the day.

The Lions proved more superior on the attack, leading both matches in attack percentage with .211 in game one and .343 in game two, compared to the Louisiana Tech's .179 and Little Rock's .188.

Graduate middle blocker's Anna Katherine Griggs and Maggie Sullivan tied for the lead in kills for both teams in game one with 14, while senior defensive specialist/libero Katie Gerig led the Lions in digs for both matches on the day with 19 and 13, respectively.

2023 ASUN Fan Vote Setter of the Year Elif Ozsoy led both squads twice in assists, with 26 assists in game one and 21 in game two, and senior setter Kennedey Johnson followed suit by finishing behind her in both matches with 21 and 20 assists.

Junior Brenna Tietz, and freshmen Olivia Fenoff and Avery Markham went on to make instant impacts in both matches on the day.

Tietz finished tied for first and second in blocks in both matches with four and three, and she added 13 kills in game one. Fenoff led the way in kills for the Lions against the Trojans with 10, and Markham had 13 digs in game one to go with eight kills in game two.

Next up, the Lions will turn their attention to Arkansas State, who also finished 2-0 on the day, in a battle of undefeated teams on Saturday, August 26, at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.  

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.