CONWAY, Ark. (October 1, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team fell in four sets Wednesday night, dropping a 3-1 decision at Central Arkansas in a battle of unbeatens in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Despite the loss, both teams hit over .300 on the attack in a competitive offensive showcase. North Alabama (8-8, 2-1 ASUN) registered its second-highest hitting percentage of the season at .319.
Both teams entered with 2-0 records in ASUN play, but it was Central Arkansas (6-7, 3-0) who prevailed to earn a third conference win.
Central Arkansas took the first two sets, 25-17 and 25-23, before UNA answered with a 25-18 win in the third. The Sugar Bears closed out the match with a 25-16 victory in the fourth.
Junior Kendall Barnes tallied a team-high 16 kills with sophomore Dylann Garner following with 11. Junior Nicole Sargent was third with nine kills on a career-best .750 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Kinslee McGowan paced the Lions with 37 assists, and juniors Ava Martindale and Olivia Fenoff led with two service aces. Sargent tied the match high with two blocks, and junior Jessi Ritchhart chipped in eight digs to round out the leaders.
Central Arkansas won the first set thanks to a run after the midway point. The Sugar Bears held a slight advantage at 15-13 when a 7-1 run increased the lead to 22-14. North Alabama had its best attacking set in the first with a .367 hitting percentage and 14 kills, but UCA took the opening set, 25-17, with a .517 hitting percentage and 15 kills.
The second set was the closest of the night, featuring nine ties and three lead changes. UNA held the advantage for most of the set, leading by as many as four points. North Alabama led 18-14 when a 6-2 UCA run tied the set at 20-20. The Sugar Bears took three of the next four points and held on to take a two-set advantage, 25-23. Both offenses stayed effective with the Lions hitting .355 and the Sugar Bears totaling .423.
North Alabama answered in the third with its most convincing frame of the night. The Lions used their efficient .323 attack percentage to lead the charge while holding Central Arkansas to an even .000 hitting percentage. Barnes and Fenoff were catalysts in the frame with six kills on a .750 hitting percentage from Barnes and two aces from Fenoff. The two combined for the final four points with Barnes' final set kill winning the frame, 25-18.
Another midpoint run from the Sugar Bears proved the difference in set four. UNA started with the advantage, but an early run gave momentum back to the hosts. Central Arkansas led 13-11 when a 9-3 run fueled the home team and extended the advantage, 22-14. UCA saw the home victory out with a 25-16 win.
UNA continues ASUN play on the road Saturday, Oct. 4, at Jacksonville. First serve is set for noon central time.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.