FLORENCE, Ala. (September 5, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team will embark on their second invitational this weekend from Sept. 6-7, competing in the Skyhawk Invitational at UT Martin.
Fresh off their first win of the season against Alabama A&M, the Lions travel to Tennessee to face Missouri State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and host team UT Martin. UNA opens the weekend against Missouri State on Sept. 6 at 9 a.m., followed later by UT Martin at 6 p.m. North Alabama will conclude the weekend against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.
The invitational will be played at the Skyhawks Fieldhouse on the campus of UT Martin. Tickets for each day of the invite are also on sale and available online through PurplePass and the UT Martin ticket office.
Only the Lions' match against UT Martin will be streamed on ESPN+, but live stats will be provided for all three matches through StatBroadcast. Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action each day, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Volleyball social media pages.
MATCH 1
North Alabama vs Missouri State
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024
9 a.m.
Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
MATCH 2
North Alabama at UT Martin
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
MATCH 3
North Alabama vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
11:00 a.m.
Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama put on a dominant display in front of the home crowd on Tuesday, sweeping the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in CB&S Bank Arena. The Lions controlled both sides of the net from start to finish, as an all-around attack and stout defense sparked the home win against the in-state rivals. Offensively, UNA finished with a .312 attack percentage to go along with 42 kills and only seven attack errors. The defense made a statement with a season-high 12 assisted blocks (six total) and made it difficult for the Bulldogs to attack as they finished with 19 errors on 19 attempts for a .000 attack percentage.
WE CAN DIG IT: UNA currently leads the Atlantic Sun Conference in digs and opponent service aces. The team leads with 276 digs and just nine opponent service aces, including an average of 17.25 digs per set. UNA has given up three less service aces than FGCU, who is second with 12 opponent service aces, to average just 0.56 per set.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: After her 15-kill performance against Alabama A&M, Brenna Tietz continues to lead the Lions with 56.5 points on 51 kills. Her kill total is currently second in the Atlantic Sun Conference among qualified hitters as of Thursday, Sept. 5. Freshman Reese Ricketts also continues her good start to the year with 46.5 points on 45 kills. Senior Elif Ozsoy leads the team with 75 assists while sophomore Olivia Fenoff has recorded seven service aces. The leaders for the Lions are rounded out by freshman Audrey Small with 67 digs and sophomore Nicole Sargent with 15 blocks.
SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE: The Bears enter the invitational with the first match of the day against the Lions. Missouri State is 2-1 on the season after opening at the Spartan Classic from August 30-31. They were victorious in the first two matches of the invitational, beating USC Upstate, 3-1, and UNC Greensboro, 3-2. The current points leader is Rilynn Finley, who checks in with 54 kills, 10 digs and one block. Missouri State is coached by Steven McRoberts in his fifth season.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE BEARS: According to the Missouri State record book, this is the third all-time meeting between the Bears and Lions. The two programs played each other in 1973 and 1974, with both resulting in Missouri State wins. North Alabama's available records for volleyball date back to 1979.
SCOUTING UT MARTIN: The second contest of the invitational, UNA renews an old rivalry with former Gulf South Conference member UT Martin. The Skyhawks are 1-2 overall on the season after traveling to Alabama for the Crimson Tide Invitational. UT Martin earned its first win of the season in a 3-1 win over SWAC opponent Grambling State on August 30. Kylie Surratt leads UT Martin with 37.5 points and 32 kills, also totaling 29 digs, three blocks, three service aces and two assists. The head coach for the Skyhawks is Jaclynn Wilson in her 10th season.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE SKYHAWKS: North Alabama and UT Martin are meeting in volleyball for the 45th all-time meeting. UNA leads the series, 31-13, with the last meeting resulting in 3-0 win for the Skyhawks in 1991. This will be the first meeting in 33 years.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Arkansas-Pine Bluff serve as the final opponent for the Lions on the weekend. The Lady Lions enter the invitational with an 0-3 record and competed in the Gamecock Classic from August 30-31 in their first action of the season. Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with a 6-25 record in 2023, also going 3-13 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Zykia Jones leads the Lady Lions with 25 points, totaling a team-leading 21 kills, 12 digs, four blocks, three assists and two service aces. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is led by third-year head coach Gabrielle Floyd.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE LADY LIONS: This will mark the second all-time meeting between North Alabama and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the first all-time meeting on Sept. 16, 2023, UNA swept the Lady Lions, 3-0, in CB&S Bank Arena.
PRESEASON PRESS: The Lions were voted fourth in the ASUN Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll on August 21, marking the highest coaches poll ranking in UNA's Division I era. UNA's previous highest ranking was eighth, which came prior to the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
