TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 19, 2026) – The North Alabama beach volleyball team is set for season-opening action on Friday, Feb. 20 at the FSU Unconquered Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla.
The 2026 season begins on the campus of Florida State with North Alabama ready to hit the ground running. The Lions start with a competitive slate as the weekend features two ranked teams and one receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Coaches Poll.
UNA Beach Volleyball's season starts the morning of Feb. 20, facing No. 18 Georgia State at 9:15 a.m. The Lions will conclude day one against Cal State Bakersfield at 1 p.m. and Southeastern Louisiana at 3:30 p.m. Day two begins on Saturday, Feb. 21 against hosts and No. 8 Florida State at 10:30 a.m. The Lions' final match of the weekend comes later that Saturday against UAB at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be provided for all matches courtesy of Florida State Athletics with full results and a recap posted on RoarLions.com at the conclusion of each day of the invitational.
DUAL 1
North Alabama vs. No. 18 Georgia State
Friday, February 20, 2026
9:15 a.m. CT
Live Stats |Twitter
DUAL 2
North Alabama vs. Cal St. Bakersfield
Friday, February 20, 2026
1 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Twitter
DUAL 3
North Alabama vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Friday, February 20, 2026
3:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Twitter
DUAL 4
North Alabama at No. 8 Florida State
Saturday, February 21, 2026
10:30 a.m. CT
Live Stats | Twitter
DUAL 5
North Alabama vs. UAB (RV)
Saturday, February 21, 2026
1 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Twitter
NOTES
SPRING 2025 RECAP: UNA had a solid campaign at 18-15 with a 7-4 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference. It marked the third-straight season in which North Alabama finished with 18 or more wins. North Alabama earned a combined 15 postseason honors, including the program's first-ever ASUN Pair of the Year honor in former standout Katy Floyd and senior Selma Robinson. The Lions' conference honors included two First Team All-ASUN nods, a Second Team All-ASUN selection, three ASUN All-Freshman team selections and two Academic All-ASUN awards. Senior Hailey Benesz added an American Volleyball Coaches Association Top Flight award with Kaitlyn Holbrook, and the Lions also had four College Sport Communicators Academic All-District selections in Floyd, Robinson, senior Lucy Wedding and Ryenne Gepford. North Alabama concluded the award haul with an AVCA Team Academic Award.
SELMA THE STAR: Robinson was named by the Atlantic Sun Conference as a unanimous Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Conference team selection on Thursday, Feb. 19. The senior earned her second-consecutive unanimous selection to the team after going 22-10 from the top flight. She was one half of the ASUN's Doubles Pair of the Year with Floyd along with being an ASUN First Team selection, Academic All-ASUN team selection and College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team selection. This becomes the third-straight season for UNA with at least one unanimous preseason selection after standout pair Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney did it in 2024 along with Robinson and Katy Floyd in 2025.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Lions prep for the fourth year under Head Coach and 2024 ASUN Coach of the Year Kaleb VanDePerre. UNA returns 10 players from Spring 2025 who combined for 86 wins. Seniors Robinson and Benesz lead the returners along with graduate Sarah Larkin Lewis, senior Abby Robertson, junior Hope Dicken, Wedding and sophomores Brooke Bolden, Mabrey Whitehead and Paige Griner. The Lions also added four transfers in graduate Gracie Lynn Butler, graduate Audrey Gauthier, junior Amelia Tomlinson and sophomore Jennah Atchley. The roster rounds out with five freshmen in Izzy Coplan (redshirt), Kiana Adamson, Gaby Harnden, Emma White and Karsyn Griffin.
SCOUTING GEORGIA STATE: The Sandy Panthers prep for the new campaign after going 22-17 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference in 2025. No. 18 Georgia State cruised through the Sun Belt Conference Championship enroute to a 3-1 win over UNC Wilmington for the conference championship on April 26, 2025. They made the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship with a first-round appearance against No. 2 TCU. Michaela Jefferson and Danica Singleton return as the top duo for the Sandy Panthers, totaling 24 in Spring 2025. They were named to the All-SBC Second Team as well as being an AVCA Top Flight Fourth Flight selection. Beth Van Fleet is the head coach for Georgia State.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE SANDY PANTHERS: North Alabama will be in search of its first win over Georgia State in the third all-time meeting.
SCOUTING CAL ST. BAKERSFIELD: Cal St. Bakersfield enter the new season after securing 11 wins in Spring 2025. They claimed two ranked wins on the year, securing a 3-2 victory over No. 15 Georgia State on March 1, 2025, and a 3-2 triumph over #15 Hawaii in the Big West Championship Tournament on April 24, 2025. Vivi Kaelin returns with the most wins from Spring 2025 after going 26-9 and capping the season with First Team All-Big West honors and AVCA Top Flight Team 2 recognition. All-Big West Honorable Mention Ella Ensign and Katey Milne return as the top duo from Cal St. Bakersfield with 12 victories. The head coach for the Roadrunners is Andy Fulenwider.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE ROADRUNNNERS: This marks the first all-time meeting against Cal St. Bakersfield.
SCOUTING SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA: The Lady Lions are back in action after a 13-win season in 2025. They claimed a postseason victory with a win over San Jose State in the Southland Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament on April 23, 2025. Southeastern Louisiana's top duo returning is Mia McKinney and Mia Sauers, who both bring experience from the top flight. The Lady Lions are led by Angie Simpson.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE LADY LIONS: UNA leads the all-time series, 4-0, and looks to maintain its perfect record.
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles return to the sand after a 27-13 season in 2025 and 4-1 record in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. No. 8 Florida State made the CCSA Championship Dual but fell to No. 7 Texas, 3-0. The Seminoles continued into the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship and made the second round after taking a first-round victory over No. 9 Long Beach State, 3-1. Florida State returns its top-flight duo in CCSA Co-Pair of the Year Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig. Leading the Seminoles is Brooke Niles.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE SEMINOLES: The Lions goes for their first win over Florida State in the third meeting all time.
SCOUTING UAB: The Blazers are coming off their best season in program history after going 21-12 in 2025 with a 3-2 conference record. They capped the season with two wins in the Conference USA Tournament with victories over UTEP and Missouri State. UAB's top returners are from the first flight in Jasmine Haas and Olivia Stant. The duo went 26-7 and earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors. Delaney Rose serves as the head coach for UAB.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE BLAZERS: North Alabama looks to clinch its second all-time victory over UAB in the ninth meeting between the teams. UNA's lone victory came in a 4-1 triumph at the Blazer Beach Bash on April 14, 2024.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
