ARLINGTON, Texas (October 24, 2026) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team bounced back from a first-set loss to take down UT Arlington 3-1 Saturday afternoon at College Park Center in Texas. 

North Alabama dropped the opening set 25-16 before winning the next three sets, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-23. With the win over the Mavericks, the Lions improved to 17-6 overall and 7-3 in United Athletic Conference play.  

Junior Reese Ricketts led the Lions offensively with 16 kills. She also added 13 digs to earn her eighth double-double of the season. Junior Dylann Garner and senior Olivia Fenoff had 11 kills each with Garner hitting a team-high .357.  

Sophomore Landri Ross led in the assist column, recording 25 assists, just three-shy of her career high. Ross also set a career high, recording a team high three service aces. Junior Kinslee McGowan was close behind, recording 19 assists in a split day.  

In the dig column, senior Ava Martindale led the Lions with 23, while Ricketts came in second with 13. Ricketts and sophomore Jenna Kolosta each had three blocks to lead the Lions.  

As a team, the Lions had 54 kills, 52 assists, six service aces and 71 digs.  

 

SET ONE: UTA 25, UNA 16 

The Lions and Mavericks opened the first set trading points before UTA created separation midway through the set, going up 16-9. UNA answered with two straight points, including a service ace from Fenoff. The Lions continued to chip away, but the deficit was enough for the Mavericks to hold on to the lead and win the first set. 

SET TWO: UNA 25, UTA 23 

UNA and UTA traded the lead multiple times to open the set, with neither team seeing a two-point lead or higher until the Lions went up 15-13 following a kill from Fenoff. UNA held onto this lead all the way until an attack error allowed UTA to tie the score at 22-22. The Lions went on a 3-1 run to win the second set, ended by a kill from Fenoff.  

SET THREE: UNA 25, UTA 20 

The Lions carried momentum into the third set, jumping out to an early 9-3 lead. The Mavericks slowly creeped back in, cutting the lead to just 14-13. UTA stayed within two up until UNA went up 23-10 from a kill form Garner. A kill from Fenoff and a service ace from McGowan ended the third set 25-20. 

SET FOUR: UNA 25, UTA 23 

The fourth set was another back-and-forth battle, but the Lions reached a two-point lead at 8-6. Midway through, UNA held a lead of 17-15 after a kill from Kolosta. UTA tied the score at 18-18, to which the Lions responded with a late push to go up 23-19, including two kills from Garner and one from Fenoff. UTA pulled within one at 23-22, but UNA closed the door and secured the comeback win.  

 

UP NEXT 

North Alabama comes back home to CB&S Bank Arena next week for a match against Tarleton State on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. 

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