FLORENCE, Ala. (September 22, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches on Friday, defeating Austin Peay 3-0 at CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall in Florence.
The Lions (10-4, 2-0 ASUN) moved to 2-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference and have won six of the last seven matches. This also marks the fourth time that UNA has defeated a team in three sets, which is the second-most times in Division I program history.
UNA dropped the first two points of the opening set, but worked back to an 11-11 tie. From there, the Lions went on an 11 point run to go up 22-11, highlighted by four kills in the run by the reigning ASUN Volleyball Player of the Week — graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs. Both teams scored three more points en route to North Alabama winning the set, 25-14.
North Alabama got the upper hand to start set two, scoring the first points and answering every point the Governors had with a point of their own. Leading 11-10, the Lions outscored Austin Peay 10-4 to extend the lead to 21-14 — putting set point on the horizon. Senior defensive specialist Katie Gerig scored had three of UNA's four aces in this run. Three errors from the visitors and a set-ending kill from Griggs gave the Lions a 2-0 advantage in sets, 25-14.
The Govs scored the first point of the third set off a UNA attacking error, but a 6-0 run quickly put the Lions back in the driver's seat. The visitors answered back, outscoring UNA 6-4 to get within two of tying the set, but that would be as close as Austin Peay got in the deciding frame. With North Alabama leading 9-7, UNA went on a 12-4 run to create their largest lead in the set at 21-11. The Govs tallied five more, but it would not be enough as UNA finished off the match, 25-15.
Griggs (13), graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan (8) and junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz (8) led the way in kills for the Lions, while senior Kennedey Johnson and junior Elif Ozsoy tag-teamed in assists with 20 and 16, respectively. Two players tied with three service aces in Gerig and Johnson, while graduate libero Luana Bulara was solid in the back-row with 18 digs. The trio of Griggs (4), Sullivan (2) and Tietz (2) paced in blocks for the Lions.
The win puts the all-time record between the Govs and the Lions at 8-6 with UNA having the chance to win the season series and extend their advantage on Nov. 11 — this time in Clarksville, Tenn.
There will be a quick turnaround for North Alabama Volleyball this weekend, with the Lions returning to the court on Sunday, Sept. 24 to face Lipscomb in an early afternoon ASUN matchup at 1 p.m. in CB&S Bank Arena in Flowers Hall.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
