FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 20, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team fell in four sets Thursday evening to No. 2 seed Jacksonville in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Quarterfinals from Fort Myers, Fla.
North Alabama (14-16, 8-8 ASUN) dropped a heartbreaker in Alico Arena, concluding the season with the tournament defeat. The second meeting of the season between the two, the Lions came to play early on with the teams splitting the first two frames. Jacksonville (22-7, 12-4 ASUN) took a competitive opening set 25-23, but North Alabama responded in the second frame to tie the match at one point apiece, 25-21.
The third set saw the Dolphins answer back and win 25-19, taking a 2-1 advantage The Lions stormed out to an early lead in set four, but Jacksonville worked back from the deficit to take the match in four sets, 25-20.
The Dolphins advance to the semifinal round and will face third-seeded EKU on Friday.
Sophomore Reese Ricketts and junior Kendall Barnes displayed their all-conference talents on the attack, leading the Lions respectively with 18 and 14 kills. Ricketts tallied the match high with an efficient .405 hitting percentage to add. Barnes registered the third-most match kills while also adding four blocks – third most in the match.
Sophomore Kinslee McGowan totaled the match high with 42 assists to conclude her sensational All-ASUN season. She additionally tallied a double-double with 13 digs to her name.
Junior Ava Martindale led with 20 digs. Four Lions secured an ace in junior Olivia Fenoff, sophomore Amelia Keating, freshman Ally Greenwell and Ricketts.
Keating additionally led the match with nine blocks, which ties UNA's Division I program record. She tied former standout Anna Katherine Griggs, who tallied nine in a 3-1 win over Central Arkansas on Oct. 4, 2021.
The Lions had a slow start but overcame it to lead 15-11 at the midway point of the first period. UNA trailed 7-2 but worked back to take its first lead at 12-11. North Alabama led a 7-0 run while trailing 11-8 en route to the advantage. Jacksonville continued to cut the deficit until taking the lead back at the 20-19 mark. Both teams battled, but the Dolphins struck first with a 25-23 set win.
North Alabama's defense was key in earning the set point in the second. The Lions led wire-to-wire with UNA totaling four blocks and limiting Jacksonville to .118 hitting. Six Lions registered a kill as Barnes (four kills), Ricketts (three) and McGowan (two) led the offense towards the set win. The Dolphins made it interesting late, cutting the deficit to three at 22-19. UNA held strong to take the frame, 25-21.
Jacksonville had its best attacking period in the third enroute to taking a 2-1 advantage. The Dolphins hit for a combined .467 attack percentage to lead nearly wire-to-wire in the 25-19 win.
The fourth saw North Alabama come out strong to a 7-1 advantage. The Lions built their largest lead to 11-3, but Jacksonville went on a 7-0 run to cut UNA's lead to 11-10. The Dolphins' momentum continued with a responding 5-1 run to take the lead at 15-12.
North Alabama stayed within striking distance late, only trailing by one with Jacksonville leading 18-17. A 4-0 Dolphins run late proved the difference in the fourth, helping Jacksonville see the match out with a 25-20 fourth set.
The 2025 season wraps up for North Alabama, but not without many highlights from the season. Head Coach Tristan Johnson led the Lions in securing their fourth-straight season with double-digit wins and third-straight making the postseason tournament.
UNA had notable wins across the season, including first-time wins over SEMO, Western Carolina, McNeese and FGCU. Additionally, the Lions landed second all-time wins over Grambling State, Tennessee Tech, Lipscomb and Stetson while defeating Samford for the first time since 1997.
North Alabama looks onto the offseason with hopes on building for the 2026 campaign.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
