FLORENCE, Ala. (February 5, 2024) – University of North Alabama Beach Volleyball head coach Kaleb VanDePerre announced the Spring 2024 schedule on Monday, announcing a full 31-match slate for this season.
VanDePerre will enter his second season at the helm, guiding the Lions to the most wins in program history last season with 20 and the highest win percentage with .556 since the program began in 2019.
"We are excited to see what we can accomplish this season, returning many players from last year and adding some great talent in our freshman/transfer class," said VanDePerre. "Best of all, we have a team full of great people who are excited to put in the work both on and off the sand to chase the best version of themselves."
UNA earned multiple accolades under VanDePerre's tutelage in year one, highlighted by senior Taylor Seney and graduate student Paula Klemperer nabbing first-team All-ASUN honors and Klemperer earning the program's first College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America honor. The Lions also returned nine players from the starting 10 in 2023 with the addition of three transfers.
The Lions head into the regular season after announcing their first fall schedule in 2023, totaling 39 wins across four invitationals & tournaments. The spring schedule consists of 31 match dates, including four hosted at home, concluding with the Atlantic Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Championships in April. UNA's schedule includes seven teams that finished in the top 20 of the final 2023 American Volleyball Coaches Association.
"We are excited to face some top 10 teams on the road and see how we stack up, especially after having great success in the AVCA Fall Championships," added VanDePerre.
UNA Beach Volleyball kicks the season off Feb. 23-24 at the Green Wave Invitational in New Orleans, La., where the Lions face Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans on Friday and Oregon and Tulane on Saturday. The Friday matches begin at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., while Saturday's matches will start at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Next, UNA takes on the Tiger Beach Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. from March 2-3. Traveling to the campus of LSU, North Alabama will face Nebraska at 1 p.m. and Tulane 6 p.m. on March 2 before facing Houston Christian at 8 a.m. and LSU at 11 a.m. on March 3.
North Alabama will welcome Carson Newman, Jacksonville State and ASUN Conference foes Austin Peay to the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts for their first home tournament on March 8-9. The Lions face the Eagles March 8 at 9 a.m. before facing the Gamecocks at 1 p.m. UNA will play Carson-Newman again March 9 at 9 a.m. and rounds off the home meet with the Governors at 1 p.m.
March 15-16 will see the Lions travel to DeLand, Fla. for Stetson's home tournament, with the UNA facing Charleston (10 a.m.) and UNCW (2 p.m.) on March 15. ASUN matchups against Stetson (8 a.m.) and Jacksonville (noon) round off North Alabama's trip to Florida on March 16.
UNA will play three ASUN foes at the Stacheville Beach Bash on March 22-23 in Clarksville, Tenn., including EKU, Austin Peay and Central Arkansas. Lions will face the Colonels (9 a.m.) and Govs (3:30 p.m.) on the first day and the Bears (10 a.m.) on the final day.
April begins with a trip to Florida State for the FSU Unconquered Invitational on April 5-6. North Alabama will have five matches across the two days, with the first day against FIU (8 a.m.), ASUN member North Florida (12:30 p.m.) and Florida State (5 p.m.). The invite will conclude with FAU (8 a.m.) and Loyola Marymount (12:30 p.m.).
UNA will stay in-state for its April 13-14 matches in Birmingham. The tournament begins with Southern Miss (10 a.m.) and Mercer (noon) before concluding with UAB (noon) on April 14.
For Senior Day, UNA welcomes UAB (11 a.m.) and UT Martin (3 p.m.) to Florence, Ala. on April 16 — marking the regular season home finale. The regular season will conclude on the road April 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at the Chattanooga Clash, as UNA will play EKU (3 p.m.) and Chattanooga (5 p.m.).
The postseason begins April 24 in DeLand, Fla. for the ASUN Beach Volleyball Championships, with the four-day tournament concluding on April 27.
To view the schedule, click here.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
