CONWAY, Ark. (September 20, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team fell in their opening match of the UCA Invitational, dropping a three-set result to Central Arkansas on Friday in Conway, Ark.

The Lions opened the weekend tournament against the Sugar Bears, while also opening conference play for the Atlantic Sun Conference. With both coming off wins in their last outing, the teams looked to open ASUN play with the first win of conference scheduling.

Freshman Reese Ricketts and graduate Jasmine Brooks secured double-digit kills for the Lions, finishing with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Senior Elif Ozsoy led UNA with 26 assists, while senior Katy Floyd registered a match-high two service aces. Sophomore Olivia Fenoff tied her season high with 11 digs to lead, and sophomore Nicole Sargent anchored the net defense with a team-high three blocks.

The Sugar Bears came out in the first set clicking on offense, using 16 kills and a .441 team attack percentage in the opener to grab the opening set. Leading 10-9, Central Arkansas used a 9-1 run to separate from the Lions, leading to a 25-14 set win for the Sugar Bears.

Central Arkansas continued to excel on the attack in the second set, using a 9-3 scoring run to gain the early lead. North Alabama's offense started slow, but UNA used a late run to cut the lead to make it a close second set. The Lions trailed 20-15 late in the set but responded with a 6-2 run to make it 22-21 in Central Arkansas' favor. The Sugar Bears held on to win the set, 25-23, using timely offense to take the 2-0 set lead.

North Alabama and Central Arkansas played a mostly back-and-forth affair in the third frame, but the Sugar Bears held a slight advantage with UNA fighting to extend the match. The teams alternated points to begin, but a key three-straight points gave Central Arkansas a 12-8 advantage towards the midway point.

The Sugar Bears maintained the slight lead until the 20-17 mark, when a 3-1 run cut UNA's deficit to one at 21-20. Both teams continued to battle by alternating points, leading to extras with a team needing to win by two. Despite the late rally by the Lions, two kills from the Sugar Bears capped a 3-0 defeat against Central Arkansas.

Last season, UNA swept the season series with 3-1 wins both in Florence and Conway.

The Lions will have a day two doubleheader, opening against the Jackson State Tigers at 10 a.m. UNA will follow up with a noon matchup against Little Rock, concluding the weekend in Arkansas.

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