FLORENCE, Ala. (October 24, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team had a two-set lead Friday night, but was ultimately defeated by the EKU Colonels by a 3-2 final in CB&S Bank Arena.

North Alabama (11-11, 5-4 ASUN) battled EKU (14-7, 6-3 ASUN) early in the conference matchup, taking a 2-0 lead after two frames. Solid attacking play fueled the advantage, but the Colonels used their own attacking prowess to mount a comeback.

EKU responded with third and fourth set victories, leading to the deciding fifth set. The Colonels took control early with the Lions battling from behind, but EKU completed the rally to take the road win.

Sophomore Reese Ricketts led UNA with 22 kills, followed by 15 from junior Kendall Barnes. Junior Nicole Sargent totaled 12 kills to cap UNA's leaders.

Sophomore Kinslee McGowan registered a match-leading 49 assists, and junior Ava Martindale tallied the match high with 17 digs. Three Lions totaled two service aces in Martindale, McGowan and Ricketts.

Freshman Jenna Kolosta's career-high six blocks led the match on the defensive side. Barnes additionally had a career outing with four blocks.

North Alabama's first two sets were strong compared to the visiting Colonels, hitting .356 to EKU's .180. The Lions totaled 28 kills to go with five aces in a 25-18 first set and 25-16 second set. UNA's defense added key points with five of its seven match blocks coming in the early two sets.

The Colonels won the third set using a late scoring run. The Lions led for majority of the set until EKU used a 5-0 run to seal set three. UNA led 20-19 before the run with the Colonels seeing the set out, 25-21. There were eight ties in the frame.

Set four was more competitive with the set tied nine times along with five lead changes. North Alabama played EKU close, but the Colonels' .414 hitting percentage in the set proved the difference. Another late run sent the match to a fifth set with EKU winning, 25-19.

Both teams had strong attacks in the final frame, but the Colonels gained momentum first with an early run.

EKU led 4-2 when a 6-2 run increased the lead to 10-4. North Alabama answered with its own 6-2 run to cut the Colonels' advantage to 12-10. Despite UNA's rally, EKU saw the match out in set five, 15-11.

The Lions continue the weekend in Florence with a matchup this Sunday against Bellarmine at 1 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.