FLORENCE, Ala. (September 15, 2023) – North Alabama Volleyball met Central Arkansas at CB&S Bank Arena in Flowers Hall to open the UNA Invitational on Friday in Florence, as the Lions claimed a 3-1 victory over the Sugar Bears to start 1-0 in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

In the second match of the invitational — following Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State — the Sugar Bears tallied more kills than the Lions, 54-50, but North Alabama played a cleaner match, committing seven less errors than Central Arkansas. The Lions held the advantage on the defensive side with North Alabama leading the way in digs (76) and blocks (12).

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fenoff had her best game as a Lion so far, earning a double-double and setting career highs in kills (11), service aces (four), digs (16) and points (15), which led the team. Outside hitter Avery Markham continues her solid week by setting a new career high with 16 digs.

The Lions were led in kills by graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs with 12, while senior setter Kennedey Johnson added a team-high 24 assists. Junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz and graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan combined for the team-high with four blocks and graduate libero Luana Bulara led with 21 digs

The Lions started strong, jumping out to an early lead before the Sugar Bears were able to respond. At 8-8, UNA went on a six-point run, fueled by three attacking errors by Central Arkansas and three kills from freshman outside hitter Olivia Fenoff. North Alabama was in full control of the first set, winning 25-17 to cement the strong start.

Although the Sugar Bears earned the first point of set two, that would be the only time the visitors led the set. Both teams exchanged points until seven-straight points from UNA extended the lead to 18-10. In the run, junior setter Elif Ozsoy ran off three-straight service aces combined with freshman outside hitter Avery Markham's two kills to add to the more errors from Central Arkansas.

A run from the visitors allowed the lead to trim to three, but they had no answer for the hitters from UNA. The Lions were able to take set two, 25-20.

Neither team could separate themselves in the third set, exchanging points early on. With the Lions leading 13-11, the Sugar Bears scored six-straight to gain the lead. UNA fought their way back to tie the score at 18, but a five-point run by Central Arkansas allowed the visitors to hold the momentum en route to winning set three, 25-19.

Another strong start for the visitors had UNA trailing in the beginning stages of the fourth set, but the Lions were able to hang with the Sugar Bears. North Alabama took the lead midway at 14-13, but Central Arkansas did not allow the hosts to extend their lead. Down 21-20, momentum began to shift for UNA, as the Lions answered with four-straight points with match point on the horizon.

Despite another score from the Sugar Bears, the Lions held on to win the set 25-22 and secure the first conference win of the season, 3-1. Kills by Griggs, Tietz and Markham, along with a service ace by Bulara, set up match point. Two points later, Sullivan put the exclamation point on things with a slam down the middle.

North Alabama will look to pick up two more wins in day two of the invitational, with the first match coming against Arkansas – Pine Bluff on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. The Lions will close out the day with their second match against Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m.

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