CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 17, 2024) – One day removed from its home finale, the University of North Alabama beach volleyball team tied its program record for single-season wins in a 5-0 sweep of EKU on Wednesday afternoon in Tennessee.
 
The Lions ended the regular season in Chattanooga, facing the Colonels in an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup before ending against the Mocs. UNA battled UTC in the final dual but came just short of the program-record 21st win in a 3-2 loss. North Alabama will look to break the mark when postseason play begins with the ASUN Tournament on April 24.
 
The win over EKU also gave UNA its second win over the Colonels this season. The Lions and Colonels played previously on March 22 at the Stacheville Beach Bash, with UNA taking a 4-1 victory.
 
All five Lion pairings won on the day, but two pairs finished with a 2-0 record. Third-flight pair Ryenne Gepford and Mackenzie Martin extended their win streak to four matches, while sophomore Selma Robinson and junior Katy Floyd earn their two wins in hard-fought three-set battles. Reigning ASUN Pair of the Week Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney picked up their 20th win of the season in a victory over the Colonels.
 
Graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook and sophomore Grace Austin earned a win in the bout over EKU, along with senior Jelena Girod and sophomore Sarah Larkin Lewis.
 
North Alabama ends the regular season with 20-11 record, while EKU ends the season at 16-12. Chattanooga's record now stands at 12-9.
 
 
MATCH 1: North Alabama 5, EKU 0
 
The Lions earned their second season win over EKU in a sweep over the Colonels in the opening dual.
 
UNA was pushed to three sets in two flights, but North Alabama took the battle of ASUN teams for their 20th win of the season.
 
Starting off the day was Lewis and Girod, defeating Elizabeth Fonvielle and Bailey Rima from flight five, 21-15, 21-19. Holbrook and Austin grabbed the second win for UNA, but the pair needed three sets to defeat Rachel Mueller and Gabriella Armitage. Holbrook and Austin overcame a dropped second set to earn the Lions second win, 21-14, 17-21, 15-8.
 
Martin and Gepford won their third match in a row in a convincing 21-9, 21-14 triumph over Madalyn Richardson and Riley Cutler from court three. Klemperer and Seney got the job done from fight one, earning the 20th win of the year in a 21-17, 21-19 victory over Sarah Mitchell and Paityn Walker. 
 
The dual rounded out with Floyd and Robinson taking a three-set battle against EK Lonergan and Reagan Sandlin. UNA's second flight fought back from a first-set defeat to rally for a 21-23, 21-16, 15-12 victory for the pairs' 23rd win.
 

1. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) def. Mitchell/Walker (EKU) 21-17, 21-19
2. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) def. Lonergan/Sandlin (EKU) 21-23,21-16, 15-12
3. Martin/Gepford (UNA) def. Richardson/Cutler (EKU) 21-9, 21-14
4. Austin/Holbrook (UNA) def. Mueller/Armitage (EKU) 21-14, 17-21, 15-8
5. Girod/Lewis (UNA) def. Fonvielle/Rima (EKU) 21-14, 17-21, 15-8

 
 
MATCH 2: Chattanooga 3, North Alabama 2
 
North Alabama's rally came short in the final regular season dual, capping the Chattanooga Clash with a 3-2 defeat to the Mocs
 
UTC got out to a fast start with wins from the fourth and fifth flights, but a win from Martin and Gepford sparked momentum for the Lions in the comeback attempt. The pair finished the two-day, four-game stretch with a fourth-straight win, defeating McKenna Faychak and Grace Frigaard, 21-12, 21-16, from flight three.
 
The deciding flight came down to Klemperer and Seney facing off against Neva Clark and Corina Vale, with UNA's top flight taking the first set, 21-12. Clark and Vale answered in the second set with a tough 21-18 win to set up a crucial third set. The final set was a competitive battle, with it coming down to a win-by-two situation, but the Mocs would take the win with a 16-14 result.
 
The second flight match also came down to three sets, but Floyd and Robinson rallied from a set down for a 22-24, 21-16, 15-10 win over Joy Courtright and Maddie Lecik.
 

1. Clark/Vale (UTC) def. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) 12-21, 21-18, 16-14
2. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) def. Courtright/Lecik (UTC) 22-24, 21-16, 15-10
3. Martin/Gepford (UNA) def. Faychak/Frigaard (UTC) 21-12, 21-16
4. Gallentine/Gresham def. Holbrook/Austin (UNA) 21-14, 21-19
5. Romano/Lawrence (UTC) def. Girod/Lewis (UNA) 21-12, 21-18

 
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions begins postseason play with the ASUN Conference Tournament from April 24-27. UNA will travel to DeLand, Fla. for the tournament with seeding to be announced at a later date.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.