FLORENCE, Ala. (September 3, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team opened the first home match of the season in style, defeating the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a 3-0 sweep in CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall on Tuesday.

UNA (1-3) earned its first win of the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-2 on the year. The Lions dominated on both sides of the net, as the all-round attack and stout defense sparked the home win against the in-state rivals.

The attack was firing on all cylinders for the Lions, who finished with their best team attacking percentage of the young season. North Alabama finished with a .312 attack percentage to go along with 42 kills and only seven attack errors. Service aces were also a strong spot for UNA, finishing with a season-high seven as a team.

The defense made a statement at the net with 12 total blocks, which set a new team season-high. The Lions made it difficult for the Bulldogs to muster an attack as Alabama A&M finished 19 errors on 19 attempts for a .000 attack percentage.

Five different Lions finished with five or more kills, led by senior Brenna Tietz with 15 kills on a .538 hitting percentage. Freshman Reese Ricketts was the next highest with seven kills, followed by sophomore Nicole Sargent and senior Katy Floyd with six. Junior Hayley Martin secured five kills in her performance, and freshman Autumn Holmes finished with three kills in her home debut.

Senior Elif Ozsoy and freshman Kinslee McGowan served as the setting pair for the Lions, finishing with 21 and 16 assists, respectively. Sophomore Olivia Fenoff led the Lions with three service aces, followed by two from Sargent and one each from Floyd and freshman Audrey Small. Small totaled the most digs with 19, and Sargent was the leader in blocks with five.

The opening set found the Lions able to set the tone from first serve. Combined with timely and efficient offense and some miscues by the Lady Bulldogs, UNA was able to take the first set by a comfortable 25-14 score. Tietz came out swinging in the opening set, totaling seven kills on a .545 hitting percentage to lead the offense. North Alabama's defense also set the tone in the opening frame, forcing the Bulldogs into a negative hitting percentage in the period.

The offense would only heat up in the second set, as the Lions finished with their highest attacking set percentage of the match. UNA attacked at a .366 clip, fueled by five UNA players securing at least two kills in the set. North Alabama had a total of 17 kills in set two, with Tietz leading the way again with seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage. The Lions took care of business in set two, 25-11.

Much like the first set, the third frame saw the Lions' offense and defense combine for an all-around performance. UNA spread the ball on offense, leading to six different players securing a kill in the set. The defense, once again, gave the Bulldogs' attack problems as the visitors finished with a zero hitting percentage in the set. North Alabama added four service aces from Sargent, Fenoff and Small, completing the 3-0 sweep of the Bulldogs with a 25-12 third-set victory.

The Lions' next outing will come at the Skyhawk Invitational, where UNA first faces Missouri State on Friday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m.

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