JACKSONVILLE (March 30, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team secured a day two win over the Jacksonville Dolphins at the ASUN Midseason Invitational in Jacksonville on Saturday.
North Alabama heads home with the lone win against the Dolphins, facing hosts Jacksonville along with a matchup against FGCU. The Lions opened against the Eagles, taking a point in the 4-1 defeat before wrapping up the weekend with a sweep of the Dolphins.
The matches were played on Saturday, March 29, with the scores finalized on Sunday, March 30.
Top-flight pair Katy Floyd and Selma Robinson led the Lions with two wins on the second day. The duo added their 14th and 15th win of the season after day two while their weekend total increased to three.
Graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook and junior Hailey Benesz were victorious for the second time on the weekend, adding their 12th win of the year against Jacksonville.
Senior Ryenne Gepford and freshman Pien Grooters picked up a win against the Dolphins, along with third-flight pair Aurora Bibolotti and Paige Griner. Junior Lucy Wedding and freshman Mabrey Whitehead were victorious against Jacksonville, and junior Sarah Larkin Lewis with freshman Brooke Bolden rounded out the weekend with a win in extras against the Dolphins.
Match 1 — FGCU 4, North Alabama 1
The opening dual went in favor of the Eagles, but not without Floyd and Robinson taking a point from the first flight.
The duo started strong with a 21-17 win in the opening set, but FGCU's Cai Caiozzi and Emma Soncrant responded with a 22-20 second-set victory. The final frame saw UNA's top flight settle in, cruising to a 15-8 third set to take the match.
Flights two, three, four and five were all won by the Eagles in straight sets, with the extra match also won by FGCU.
1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Cai Caiozzi/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) 21-17, 20-22, 15-8
2. Alexis Keeter/Ava Lilliquist (FGCU) def. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) 21-18, 21-13
3. Jaci Carpenter/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) def. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) 24-22, 21-14
4. Andrea Dietz/Mia Thompson (FGCU) def. Mabrey Whitehead/Brooke Bolden (UNA) 21-17, 21-11
5. Erin Miller/Sydney Majick (FGCU) def. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) 21-16, 24-22
Extra: Lilly Hafner/Mollie Thomas (FGCU) def. Lucy Wedding/Hope Dicken (UNA) 21-13, 21-14
Match 2 — North Alabama 5, Jacksonville 0
The weekend finale saw the Lions secure their first win in a competitive yet strong effort from UNA. All five courts in regulation were won by North Alabama, including a victory in the extra match.
Floyd and Robinson had a battle in the opening set against Jacksonville's Emily Kubicsko and Claire Mrukowski. 54 total points were won between both pairs in the opener, but Floyd and Robinson held strong to take the top-flight match, 28-26, 21-13.
Gepford and Grooters overcame a dropped first set in their match en route to a 17-21, 21-11, 15-11 win over Katie Martinez and Morgan Perry. Griner and Bibolotti also had a three-set bout from court three, rebounding from a second-set defeat to beat Kristina Nika and Alize Lemieux, 21-15, 14-21, 15-13.
The Lions added a fourth win from Whitehead and Wedding, taking the fourth court in a 15-21, 21-15, 15-6 victory over Kate Taylor and Miller Reames. The fifth win in regulation came from Benesz and Holbrook, nabbing their second win of the weekend in a 21-15, 21-16 victory over Amanda Cunningham and Colleen Ziegelmaier.
The extra match was won in straight sets by Lewis and Bolden, defeating Meredith Mrukowski and Caitlin Cabrales, 21-16, 21-12.
1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Emily Kubicsko/Claire Mrukowski (JAX) 28-26, 21-13
2. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) def. Katie Martinez/Morgan Perry (JAX) 17-21, 21-11, 15-11
3. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) def. Kristina Nika/Alize Lemieux (JAX) 21-15, 14-21, 15-13
4. Mabrey Whitehead/Lucy Wedding (UNA) def. Kate Taylor/Miller Reames (JAX) 15-21, 21-15, 15-6
5. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Amanda Cunningham/Colleen Ziegelmaier (JAX) 21-15, 21-16
Extra: Sarah Larkin Lewis/Brooke Bolden (UNA) def. Meredith Mrukowski/Caitlin Cabrales (JAX) 21-16, 21-12
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama preps for the ASUN North Invitational from April 4-5, traveling to Richmond, Ky. to face Austin Peay, Central Arkansas and EKU.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
