TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 5, 2024) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team completed day one of the FSU Unconquered Invitational with three losses Friday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla.
North Alabama opened its most challenging outing in program history with bouts against three quality opponents. The Lions competed against No. 4 Florida State, No. 14 FIU and Atlantic Sun Conference foe North Florida – who are receiving votes in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Coaches Poll. UNA took one set from the Ospreys in a 4-1 loss, but fell 5-0 to both FSU and FIU.
UNA gained a win from graduate student Mackenzie Martin and junior Ryenne Gepford, who ended day one with a 21-19, 29-27 victory against the Ospreys' Mariana Feliciano and Mackenzie Murphy.
After the first day of action, North Alabama moved to 14-8 on the season and 4-3 in ASUN play. FIU capped a 1-1 day at 15-8, while North Florida improved to 16-8 with the win over UNA. Host Florida State concluded with three wins on day one, improving to 22-5.
Match 1 — FIU 5, North Alabama 0
North Alabama dropped the first dual of the day against FIU. The Panthers won four of the five courts in straight sets, but junior Katy Floyd and sophomore Selma Robinson fought to a third set from flight two. The pair rebounded from a 21-9 loss in set one to win the second set, 21-16. UNA's second flight was unable to take the victory, falling in the third, 15-10.
1. Bianchi/Orsi Toth (FIU) def. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) 21-12, 21-10
2. Luini/Pokorna (FIU) def. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) 21-9, 16-21, 15-10
3. Bielak/Pratesi (FIU) def. Martin/Gepford (UNA) 21-16, 23-21
4. Brown/Huggins (FIU) def. Austin/Holbrook (UNA) 21-17, 21-19
5. Cahill/Sanchez (FIU) def. Girod/Lewis (UNA) 24-22, 21-18
Match 2 — North Florida 4, North Alabama 1
The Lions were able to get a win from Martin and Gepford, but UNA fell in ASUN play to North Florida.
North Alabama's third flight opened with a battle against Mariana Feliciano and Mackenzie Murphy, winning in 21-19 first set. Martin and Gepford's match stayed competitive in the second set with UNA and North Florida scoring a combined 56 points. The Lion pair was able to take the win with a 29-27 result – their 11th of the season.
The Ospreys took the remaining four flights en route to the conference win.
1. Pierce/Rezentes (UNF) def. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) 21-14, 13-21, 15-10
2. Espy/Murray (UNF) def. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) 21-17, 22-24, 15-11
3. Gepford/Martin (UNA) def. Feliciano/Murphy (UNF) 21-19, 29-27
4. Humphries/Wooldridge (UNF) def. Austin/Holbrook (UNA) 21-11, 21-10
5. Camp/Fletcher (UNF) def. Girod/Lewis (UNA) 21-17, 21-15
Match 3 — Florida State 5, North Alabama 0
UNA concluded day one with a defeat to the Seminoles. Florida State claimed its third win of the day against the Lions, taking all five flights in two sets. Top flight pair Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney and the second flight pair of Floyd and Robinson fell narrowly by two points in their opening frames.
1. Anderson/Durish (FSU) def. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) 21-19, 21-12
2. Hansen/Head (FSU) def. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) 21-19, 21-16
3. Koenig/White (FSU) def. Martin/Gepford (UNA) 21-14, 21-10
4. Crews/Trusty (FSU) def. Austin/Holbrook (UNA) 21-12, 21-16
5. Bergner/Flaherty (FSU) def. Girod/Lewis (UNA) 21-14, 21-16
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama faces No. 16 FAU and No. 20 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 6 in day two action. The Lions open against the Owls at 7 a.m. before ending against the Islanders at 11:30 a.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
