WASHINGTON D.C. (September 8, 2023) –North Alabama Volleyball capped day one of the DC Showdown with two wins, highlighted by a come-from-behind win against host George Washington and a four-set win against Big East mainstay, Georgetown on Sept. 8 in Washington, D.C.

Kicking off the festivities, the Lions (5-3) got off to a challenging start, as the Revolutionaries (1-6) came out flying early. UNA dropped the first two sets by scores of 19-25 and 16-25, but the Lions would not go easily

Led by on the offensive end by graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs (14 kills), freshman outside hitter Avery Markham (10 kills) and junior outside hitter Brenna Tietz (10 kills), the Lions went on two separate runs of five and eight points en route to taking the third set, 25-20. GWU made it a close fourth set, but UNA fought hard to push it to a deciding set, winning 25-18.

It would be all North Alabama in set five, as the Lions took the early lead and never looked back to clinch the win against George Washington, the first in program history.

Match two with the Hoyas (6-2) started off evenly between the two teams, as both could not extend a lead beyond a single point midway through. Tied at 13, the Lions ran off four-straight points to take the lead, and after a second four-point run, UNA took set one, 25-20

Georgetown responded in set two, jumping out early with a 7-2 lead and forcing a Lions' timeout. The pause in action ignited North Alabama, running off six-straight points to put themselves in the lead for the first time in the set. Back-and-forth the set went, with UNA having to stay within reach as the Hoyas maintained a consistent two-point lead. Working their way back to a tie at 21, the Lions broke through with five-straight points to win the second set, 25-21.

The Hoyas would not back down, taking the fourth set, but it would not be without a fight from the Lions. Down 21-24, UNA scored three-straight to take it to a win-by-two situation before Georgetown scored the next two to win it.

Set four was even up to the 11-11 mark before North Alabama got into a groove to build a 17-12 lead. Georgetown had no answers for the Lions' attack as UNA continued to roll as they went on take the set, 25-21, and the win, 3-1.

Avery Markham earned herself a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs in the performance, her second of the day after a 10 kill, 13 dig performance in game one against the Revolutionaries. She added two service aces and four total blocks between the two matches, as well.

The ASUN leader in hitting percentage, Anna Katherine Griggs contributed another double digit kill performance, tallying 11 kills, three blocks and a dig on the night. She finished with a team-high 25 kills between the two matches to go with nine blocks and two digs.

Other notable performances included a tag-team effort in assists with senior and junior setters Kennedey Johnson and Elif Ozsoy finishing with 44 and 50 assists on the day, respectively. Graduate libero Luana Bulara led in digs in both matches with a total 39, holding down the back line.

Starting in the second match against Georgetown, junior outside hitter Katy Floyd and freshman outside/right side hitter Nicole Sargent proved crucial in the first win in program history against the Hoyas. Floyd was third in kills among all players with 12, and Sargent contributed with four kills, four digs and three blocks.

North Alabama will look to finish 3-0 at the DC Showdown with an early morning matchup against Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 11 a.m. in the Charles E. Smith Center.