HATTIESBURG, Miss. (February 22, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team wrapped up the Beach Burg Invitational on Saturday, falling to FGCU and No. 8 LSU on the second day of the invite.
North Alabama faced a test in day two from Mississippi, starting against its rival from the Atlantic Sun Conference before taking on the eighth-ranked team in the country. UNA gave both the Eagles and Tigers a battle, coming down to the final three matches for both duals.
Senior Katy Floyd and junior Selma Robinson won from the top flight against the Eagles, securing UNA's lone point. The pair leave the weekend with two total wins for a 2-2 record.
UNA heads home from the competitive opening weekend with a 1-3 record, taking a win from day one against Southern Miss.
Match 1 — FGCU 4, North Alabama 1
North Alabama went toe to toe with ASUN foe FGCU in a match that came down to the final two courts.
The Eagles took the first two points from court four and five, but the Lions answered back with a top-flight victory from Floyd and Robinson. The pairing won with a solid 21-13 first set over FGCU's Nicole De Oliveira and Kaitlyn Luebbers, following with a hard-fought 21-17 second set to put UNA on the board.
Court two and three came down to three sets, but the Eagles claimed both flights. Senior Ryenne Gepford and freshman Pien Grooters fought back from dropping the first set but fell to FGCU's Jaci Carpenter and Emma Soncrant, 21-16, 12-21, 15-13. Court three saw sophomore Aurora Bibolotti and freshman Paige Griner also came back a set down against the Eagles' Andrea Dietz and Sydney Majick, but the two fell to the FGCU duo, 21-14, 17-21, 15-11.
In extras, North Alabama claimed a win with sophomore Hope Dicken and freshman Mabrey Whitehead beating FGCU's Lily Hafner and Mollie Thomas, 21-13, 21-19.
Court 1: Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Nicole De Oliveira/Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU), 21-13, 21-17
Court 2. Jaci Carpenter/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) def. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA), 21-16, 12-21, 15-13
Court 3: Andrea Dietz/Sydney Majick (FGCU) def. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA), 21-14, 17-21, 15-11
Court 4: Alexis Keeter/Ava Lilliquist (FGCU) def. Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA), 21-16, 21-12
Court 5: Erin Miller/Mia Thompson (FGCU) def. Sarah Larkin Lewis/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA), 21-18, 21-15
Extra: Mabrey Whitehead/Hope Dicken (UNA) def. Lily Hafner/Mollie Thomas (FGCU), 21-13, 21-19
Order of Finish: (4,6,5,1,2,3)
Match 2 — #8 LSU 5, North Alabama 0
The No. 8 Tigers claimed all five courts and the extras court, but the Lions made it a three-set affair on courts one and three.
Fresh off their win against FGCU, Floyd and Robinson faced LSU's Parker Bracken and Gabi Bailey from the top flight. The Tigers' duo struck first with a 21-17 victory in the opening set, but Floyd and Robinson needed to win by two to take the 22-20 second set. LSU's pairing saw the dual out with a tight 15-11 third set.
Griner and Bibolotti also went three sets in their match, forcing a deciding set against LSU's Camryn Chatellier and Emily Meyer. Griner and Bibolotti claimed a 21-15 first set, with the Tigers responding with a narrow 21-19 second set to force the decider. Chatellier and Meyer secured the final team point in a 15-11 win in the third.
Court 1: Parker Bracken/Gabi Bailey (LSU) def. Selma Robinson/Katy Floyd (UNA) 21-17, 20-22, 15-11
Court 2: Aubrey O'Gorman/Julia Sprecher (LSU) def. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) 22-20, 21-13
Court 3: Camryn Chatellier/Emily Meyer (LSU) def. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) 15-21, 21-19, 15-11
Court 4: Skylar Martin/Tatum Finlason (LSU) def. Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA) 21-10, 21-8
Court 5: Gracey Campbell/Elle Evers (LSU) def. Hope Dicken/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) 21-12, 21-18
Extra: Kylie Mueller/Yali Ashush (LSU) def. Sarah Larkin Lewis/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) 21-15, 21-19
Order of Finish: (4,6,5,2,1,3)
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama heads to Louisiana for its next outing from Friday, Feb. 28 to Saturday, March 1 at the Battle on the Bayou. Hosted by LSU, the Lions are scheduled to face the Tigers, Louisiana-Monroe, Southeastern Louisiana and South Florida.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
