MARTIN, Tenn. (March 19, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team were defeated Wednesday afternoon in a pair of road duals against the UT Martin Skyhawks in Martin, Tenn.

Facing the Skyhawks in the midweek matchup, the Lions traveled to Tennessee for the second and third season meetings between the two programs. The two duals proved to be competitive bouts, with both matchups determined by a single point. In the end, the hosts were able to secure the home wins with 3-2 results in both contests.

The top-flight pair of senior Katy Floyd and junior Selma Robinson won both matches on the day, along with the fifth-flight duo of graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook and junior Hailey Benesz. For Floyd and Robinson, they improved their overall season record to 12-4 while Holbrook and Benesz's record improves to 10-1.

North Alabama returns to Florence with the Lions now 9-7 on the season.



Match 1 — UT Martin 3, North Alabama 2

The opening dual set the tone for the matches in Tennessee, with both teams fighting for the first win of the day.

North Alabama and UT Martin were even throughout four flights, with each team alternating taking a court. Benesz and Holbrook grabbed the first win from the fifth flight, defeating Ryan Rednour and Kylie Surrat with a 21-14, 21-13 victory. The Skyhawks secured the ensuing fourth flight, also taking the third flight to gain the 2-1 team lead.

Floyd and Robinson tied the dual with UNA's second team point, beating Jenna Vallee and Dylan Mott from flight one, 21-13, 21-19. The final match saw the Lions' Ryenne Gepford and Pien Grooters take on the Skyhawks' Riley Rushing and Dylan Sulcer in a three-set battle.

Rushing and Sulcer struck first with a 21-18 win in the opening set, followed by Gepford and Grooters taking the second set, 21-19. The third set saw both pairs compete with the frame needing to be won by two points. The UT Martin pair ultimately saw the set and dual out with a 16-14 third set.


1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Jenna Vallee/Dylan Mott (UTM) 21-13, 21-19
2. Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (UTM) def. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) 21-18, 19-21, 16-14
3. Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (UTM) def. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) 21-14, 21-14
4. Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (UTM) def. Sarah Larkin Lewis/Brooke Bolden (UNA) 22-20, 21-17
5. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Ryan Rednour/Kylie Surrat (UTM) 21-14, 21-13

Order of Finish: (5,4,3,1,2)



Match 2 — UT Martin 3, North Alabama 2

A similar scoreline saw a repeat of competitive beach volleyball from Martin, Tenn. The two teams split two courts through four matches, with the third flight proving the difference in the bout. In another hard-fought battle, the Skyhawks came out on top en route to their second win of the day.

Holbrook and Benesz carried momentum from the first matchup into the second, securing a 21-18, 21-17 win over Rednour and Kristin Phillips. A three-set match from court four saw UT Martin gain its first team points, along with its second in a medical forfeit by the Lions from court two.

Floyd and Robinson gave North Alabama a much-needed win from court one, beating Vallee and Mott for the second-straight time with a 21-18, 21-13 result. Sophomore Aurora Bibolotti and freshman Paige Griner faced off against the Skyhawks' Kayla Bryant and Olivia O'Keefe from court three in the deciding bout.

Bibolotti and Griner took the first set with a 21-16 victory, but the second set resulted in a 25-23 win for Bryant and O'Keefe to move to the third frame. Both teams kept it close throughout the final set, but Skyhawks' third-flight secured UT Martin's win with a 17-15 third-set victory.



1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Jenna Vallee/Dylan Mott (UTM) 21-18, 21-13
2. Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (UTM) def. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) 21-16, forfeit
3. Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (UTM) def. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) 16-21, 25-23, 17-15
4. Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (UTM) def. Mabrey Whitehead/Brooke Bolden (UNA) 18-21, 21-19, 15-11
5. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Ryan Rednour/Kristin Phillips (UTM) 21-18, 21-17

Order of Finish: (5,4,2,1,3)



COMING UP NEXT

North Alabama's next outing comes in Jacksonville, Fla., with the Lions set for the ASUN Midseason Invitational from March 28-29.

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