FLORENCE, Ala. (October 3, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team is home for the next two matches inside CB&S Bank Arena, hosting EKU and Bellarmine in Atlantic Sun Conference action this weekend in Florence.
UNA returns home after nabbing its first ASUN win against Jacksonville last time out, and it'll look to continue rolling and extend its three-match win streak in home matchups against the Colonels and Knights. The Lions open the weekend against EKU on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. before facing Bellarmine on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
The matches will be available for streaming on ESPN+, and live stats will be provided courtesy of StatBroadcast. Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following each match, but fans can follow along in real time on the UNA Volleyball social media pages.
Parking near the Hal Self Athletic Annex will be limited due to Bank Independent Stadium construction. Violators will be towed if parked in the construction zone. Fans are encouraged to park in the lots below the arena, along Circular Road and North Pine Street.
Limited handicap parking will also be available in front of the annex and the CB&S Bank Arena ticket office.
UNA is also launching a supply drive for the devastated areas of Hurricane Helene, partnering with Tree Pros and local fire departments to send items to the Carolinas and East Tennessee. Toiletries, non-perishable food and other essential items will be collected at both matches. Fans will also be able to drop off items at both soccer and football events this week.
MATCH 1
North Alabama vs EKU
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024
6 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
MATCH 2
North Alabama vs Bellarmine
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024
1 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: The Lions earned its seventh win of the season on Sept. 28 in a 3-0 road triumph over Jacksonville. UNA had its most efficient attacking performance of the season, registering a .354 team attack percentage to sweep the Dolphins for its third-straight win. The Lions also extended their winning ways in the series with Jacksonville with a fourth-straight win.
A TEAM EFFORT: North Alabama is in the top three of five statistical categories as a team, ranking among the best ASUN teams in opponent service aces, opponent hitting percentage, opponent blocks and digs. The Lions lead the conference in opponent service aces (1.09 per set), while second in digs (16.49 per set), opponent hitting percentage (.182 per set) and opponent blocks (1.74 per set).
LEADERBOARD LIONS: Five individual Lions are also ranked in the top-10 of the ASUN in respective categories. Freshman Reese Ricketts is tied for fourth in kills with 193 kills and a 3.51 kill/set average and seventh in points, averaging 3.88 a set. Ricketts also has the second most kills among top-10, behind only 217 kills from FGCU's Shelby Kent. Freshman Audrey Small is fifth in the ASUN in digs, registering a 4.40 digs/set average with her 242 digs third among the top 10. Small's totals also rank her in the top 50 nationally, with the freshman 33rd in the nation. Senior Elif Ozsoy is eighth in the conference with 377 assists and a 6.85 set average, while sophomore Olivia Fenoff is tenth with 18 service aces and a .33 ace/set average. Sophomore Nicole Sargent rounds out the leaderboard with 48 blocks and a .87 blocks/average – good for 10th in the ASUN.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama has gone 4-1 in its last five matches, including wins in the last three against Jacksonville, Little Rock and Jackson State and a milestone win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. UNA's offense has made the difference during the period, with the Lions holding a 238-220 advantage in kills. North Alabama's offense has also been more efficient with opponents committing 110 errors to just 78 for UNA. The defense has also stepped up, with the Lions holding a 272-269 advantage in digs and 35-31.5 advantage in blocks.
SCOUTING EKU: The Colonels enter the matchup 10-5 on the season with a 1-1 record in the ASUN. EKU is currently tied for fourth in the conference with UNA and four other teams. The Colonels went 1-1 last week, defeating Austin Peay for its first ASUN Conference win before falling to Bellarmine in five sets. Sarah Mitchell leads EKU with 216.5 points on a team-high 190 kills. The Colonels also have two individuals leading the ASUN, with Carson Ledford leading in hitting percentage (.353) and Paige Wagers tops in total blocks (78) and blocks per set (1.42). Johnna Bazzani is the head coach for EKU, who is in her sixth season.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Colonels face each other in the sixth all-time meeting, with EKU leading the series, 3-2. North Alabama won the last meeting, 3-1, in a home match on Nov. 5, 2023.
SCOUTING BELLARMINE: The Knights are 4-8 on the year with a 1-1 record in conference play. Last time out, the Knights hosted Austin Peay and Lipscomb on Sept. 27 and 28, defeating the Governors, 3-0, before dropping a 3-2 result against the Bisons. The Knights' Natalie Bland leads the team in points (174.5) and kills (163), with Bland also second in the ASUN in kills per set and third in points per set. Bellarmine is led by third-year head coach, Rick Nold.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Bellarmine meet for the ninth all-time meeting, with the Knights leading the series, 6-2. The Lions and Knights split the season series in 2023, with UNA winning the last match in a 3-0 sweep on Nov. 3.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
