ABILENE, Texas (October 21, 2026) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team will travel to Abilene, Texas for a matchup against the Abilene Christian Wildcats, beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside Moody Coliseum.  

This marks the second meeting this season between the Lions and Wildcats, as they were each other's United Athletic Conference openers. The last meeting saw UNA win 3-2 in CB&S Bank Arena.  

This match begins a two-match Texas swing, as the Lions will face UT Arlington on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Arlington, Texas at College Park Center at 1 p.m.  

 

MATCH INFO 

North Alabama at Abilene Christian 

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 

6 p.m. 

Watch | Live Stats  

 

NOTES 

LAST TIME OUT: The last match UNA played was on Oct. 16 against the Austin Peay Governors, where the Lions won 3-2 after a thrilling fifth set comeback. North Alabama won the first two sets identically 25-22 but dropped the third set in extended play 27-25 after a late surge from the Governors. Austin Peay controlled the fourth set, winning 25-21 to take the match to the fifth set. The Governors jumped ahead quickly in the fifth set, gaining a 10-3 lead and later just needing two more points to win at 13-7. This is when junior Reese Ricketts took over, scoring the final nine points to a spark a 16-14 comeback win in the final set. She had 18 total kills on the night, nine coming from the fifth set. She was also responsible for 11 of the 16 points in the final set.  

SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama is currently on a two-match win streak following home wins over UT Arlington and Austin Peay. The team is currently hitting .242 to rank second in the UAC, and they hold opponents to .183 to rank first in the UAC, tied with Austin Peay. They also rank first in digs per set with 16.22. The Lions are tied for second in the conference standings with Central Arkansas. 

BACK-TO-BACK REESE: Reese Ricketts earned the UAC Player of the Week for the second week in a row on Monday, Oct. 19. Her and EKU's Emilee Hill were Co-Player of the Week. Ricketts earned the award after her outstanding performance last week, recording 50 kills to average 5.00 kills per set. She set a new career high against UT Arlington after recording 32 kills in a five-set win. She recorded 18 kills against Austin Peay and sparked the comeback to beat the Governors in the fifth set, recording nine kills and two blocks.  

UAC OPENER: North Alabama faced Abilene Christian earlier in the season for the conference opener on Sept. 24. This match was played in Florence, Ala. at CB&S Bank Arena, where the Lions won 3-2. North Alabama won the first set and the fourth set 25-16, losing back-to-back in the second and third set, both in extended play. UNA won the fifth set 15-12 to secure the conference opener. 

HITTERS HIT: The Lions have two hitters with at least 200 kills, juniors Reese Ricketts and Dylann Garner. Ricketts leads the way with 291 kills, ranking first in the UAC in kills, as well as kills per set with 3.99. The closest behind her is Little Rock's Avery Fearnley with 3.30. Garner has 208 kills and ranks eighth in the conference. The only other schools in the conference with two players with at least 200 kills is UT Arlington and West Georgia.  

ONE TO WATCH: Freshman Anna Hoffmayer has proved to be one of the Lions' most precise players, hitting for .331 to rank fifth in the conference. She also has the highest hitting percentage out of any Lion with at least 100 kills. The Mississippi native has continued to lead the team in blocks as well, recording 59 this season.  

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Abilene Christian enters the match with a 13-7 overall record and 5-3 UAC record, currently fourth in the conference standings. They are coming off a loss after dropping to EKU 3-0 in Richmond, Ky. at Baptist Health Arena on Oct. 17.  

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST ABILENE CHRISTIAN: UNA and ACU have faced each other three times before, with UNA leading the series 2-1. The last time these two met was earlier this season when UNA won 3-2 in the conference opener in Florence, Ala. at CB&S Bank Arena on Sept. 24. Prior to this match, the last meeting was in 2009 when Abilene Christian defeated North Alabama 3-1 in the Nebraska-Omaha Volleyball Showcase. This was just UNA's third match of the season. The first meeting between these two was in 1996 in the Henderson State Lady Reddie Classic when UNA defeated Abilene Christian 3-1.    

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