FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 20, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team begins the postseason Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament first round versus No. 2 Lipscomb.
The No. 7 Lions hit the road for their second ASUN postseason appearance in program history, with UNA set to face the Bisons for the third time this season. North Alabama made its first-ever appearance in 2023, but this year, the Lions look to go for their first ASUN tournament win and second all-time victory over Lipscomb.
First serve against the Bisons is scheduled for noon central time in Alico Arena with tickets available for purchase on RoarLions.com. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and have live stats available. Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Volleyball social media pages.
GAME INFO
Match: No. 7 North Alabama vs. No. 2 Lipscomb (ASUN Tournament Quarterfinals)
Date: Thursday, November 21
Time: NOON
Location: Fort Myers, Fla.
Venue: Alico Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Click here
Social Media: @UNA_Volleyball
NOTES
HOW WE GOT HERE: The No. 7 Lions march into the ASUN Tournament with an 15-14 overall record and 9-7 mark in conference play. North Alabama tied its Division I conference win record from last season, with UNA also going 9-7 in 2023. The Lions won their first match of the season in a 3-0 home win versus Alabama A&M on Sept. 3, also claiming nonconference wins against UT Martin, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jackson State and Little Rock. The most notable non-conference win came on Sept. 18 with a 3-0 win at Alabama. In ASUN play, UNA beat Jacksonville, EKU, Bellarmine, Austin Peay (twice), Stetson, West Georgia, Queens and Central Arkansas.
UNA IN THE POSTSEASON: The Lions are set to participate in their second-straight ASUN Volleyball Championship. North Alabama clinched its first conference championship during the 2023 season, playing former ASUN Conference member Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals. UNA is one of eight schools to participate in the 2024 edition of the tournament, along with FGCU, Lipscomb, Central Arkansas, EKU, Jacksonville, North Florida and Queens. Prior to 2023, UNA last appeared in the postseason in 2017 when the Lions made an appearance in both the Gulf South Conference Tournament and the NCAA South Regional at the Division II level.
ASUN HONOREES: The 2024 volleyball postseason awards were announced by the Atlantic Sun Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with graduate student Jasmine Brooks and the freshmen tandem of Reese Ricketts and Audrey Small earning postseason awards. Ricketts solidified her stellar season with Freshman of the Year honors, along with Third Team All-ASUN honors and an All-Freshman Team selection. Brooks closes out her first regular season at UNA with a Second Team All-ASUN selection, and Small rounds out the awards with an All-Freshman Team nod.
A TEAM EFFORT: North Alabama enters the postseason in the top three of three statistical categories as a team, ranking among the best ASUN teams in opponent service aces, opponent hitting percentage and opponent blocks. The Lions are second in the league in opponent service aces (1.22 per set) and opponent blocks (1.74 per set), while third in opponent hitting percentage (.198 per set).
LEADERBOARD LIONS: Four individual Lions are also ranked in the top 10 of the ASUN in respective categories entering the conference tournament. Reese Ricketts is sixth in kills with 390 kills and a 3.58 kill/set average and seventh in points, averaging 3.99 a set. Ricketts also has the second-most kills among the top 10. Jasmine Brooks also appears in the kills top 10, ranking seventh with 348 and a 3.45 per set average. Audrey Small is fifth in the ASUN in digs, registering a 4.36 digs/set average with her 493 digs third among the top 10. Senior Elif Ozsoy rounds the ASUN leaders ranking eighth in the conference with 716 assists and a 7.96 set average.
AMONG THE BEST: North Alabama's backline defense has been among the best in the country, with the Lions ranking just outside the top 25 in the NCAA in digs. As of Nov. 19, the Lions are 26th in the nation in total digs, with 1,808 on the season. UNA also ranks in the top 50 in kills, ranking 39th with 1,420 total. Audrey Small is the lone Lions to appear in the top 50 individually with a 40th ranking in the nation in digs.
MILESTONE WATCH North Alabama has several players that have either surpassed career marks or approaching them this season. Ozsoy surpassed the 1,000-assist mark against UT Martin on Sept. 6, with the senior getting her 1,500th career assist against Stetson on Oct. 20. Brooks accumulated her 500th kill against West Georgia on Oct. 25 and 100th block at EKU on Nov. 16. Tietz and Sargent also secured their 100th career block earlier this season against UT Martin and Stetson, respectively. Senior Katy Floyd earned her 100th career service ace against Bellarmine on Oct. 6. Tietz approaches the 500-kill career mark, totaling 487 kills, and Ozsoy is close to 500-career digs with 483 for her career.
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB: The Bisons finished the regular season 17-10 overall with a 14-2 record in the ASUN. Lipscomb is in the midst of a seven-match winning streak with its last loss coming against FGCU on Oct. 25. They lead the league in three categories, ranking atop the ASUN in hitting percentage (.264), opponent blocks (1.68 per set) and opponent digs (12.06 per set). The Bisons are led by recent 2024 First Team All-ASUN selections Courtney Jones and Meg Mersman, along with Second Team All-ASUN selection Sophia Hedepohl and Third Team All-ASUN Addi Pelham. Lipscomb's head coach is Brandon Rosenthal.
SERIES HISTORY: This marks the 17th all-time meeting between North Alabama and Lipscomb, but the first in postseason play. The Bisons lead the series, 15-1.
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