BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 21, 2026) – North Alabama Beach Volleyball secured a second-straight sweep over Austin Peay to end its weekend at the March to May Invite on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala.
North Alabama (9-9) heads home with its ninth win of the season after blanking the Governors for the second time in as many days. UNA leaves Birmingham with a 2-2 record, falling to hosts UAB to end the outing.
Graduate Sarah Larkin Lewis and sophomore Paige Griner tallied two wins to complete a 4-0 weekend for both individually. Lewis combined with senior Selma Robinson for a win against Austin Peay before reuniting with Griner for a three-set victory vs. the Blazers. Griner and sophomore Jennah Atchley were victorious from the second flight in their match against Austin Peay.
Seniors Lucy Wedding and Hailey Benesz also claimed a win over the Govs along with sophomore Brooke Bolden and freshman Gaby Harnden. Sophomore Mabrey Whitehead and freshman Emma White rounded out the weekend winners after combining for a win over Austin Peay.
Match 1 — North Alabama 5, Austin Peay 0
For the second-straight day, North Alabama claimed a 5-0 sweep over Austin Peay to begin the outing in Birmingham. Two flights went into three sets, but UNA had strong performances from courts two, four and five to start day with a win.
Bolden and Harnden opened the dual with a 21-10, 21-8 victory from court four over Addi Hultquist and Camryn Missig. Griner and Atchley secured the second UNA win in a 24-22, 21-14 triumph over Bailey Hope and Ashley Boswell from flight two. White and Whitehead clinched the dual from flight five in a 21-14, 21-6 win over Emily Freel and Aubreigh Oswald.
Benesz and Wedding rallied from court three to defeat Jordyn Beneteau and Emma Loiars, 14-21, 22-20, 15-8. Robinson and Lewis concluded the dual with a hard-fought win from the top-flight over Isabella Russell and Grace Austin, 17-21, 21-19, 17-15.
Court 1: Selma Robinson/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Isabella Russell/Grace Austin (APSU), 17-21, 21-19, 17-15
Court 2: Paige Griner/Jennah Atchley (UNA) def. Bailey Hope/Ashley Boswell (APSU), 24-22, 21-14
Court 3: Hailey Benesz/Lucy Wedding (UNA) def. Jordyn Beneteau/Emma Loiars (APSU), 14-21, 22-20, 15-8
Court 4: Brooke Bolden/Gaby Harnden (UNA) def. Addi Hultquist /Camryn Missig (APSU), 21-10, 21-8
Court 5: Emma White/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) def. Emily Freel/Aubreigh Oswald (APSU), 21-14, 21-6
Order of Finish: (4,2,5,3,1)
Match 2 — UAB 4, North Alabama 1
Lewis and Griner tallied UNA's lone point after rallying from a set down against Pien Grooters and Lauren Cairo. The two narrowly fell in the opening set but fought back to defeat the UAB pair from flight two, 20-22, 21-10, 15-12.
Bolden and Harnden had a three-set battle from court four but eventually fell to Isabel Day and Claudia Stockard, 18-21, 21-9, 15-8. UAB took the remaining flights in straight sets.
Court 1: Olivia Stant/Jasmine Haas (UAB) def. Selma Robinson/Jennah Atchley (UNA), 21-18, 21-16
Court 2: Paige Griner/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Pien Grooters/Lauren Cairo (UAB), 20-22, 21-10, 15-12
Court 3: Ava Knott/Olivia Chychrun (UAB) def. Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA), 21-16, 21-11
Court 4: Isabel Day/Claudia Stockard (UAB) def. Brooke Bolden/Gaby Harnden (UNA), 18-21, 21-9, 15-8
Court 5: Sadie Sharpe/Ashley Torsone (UAB) def. Mabrey Whitehead/Emma White (UNA), 22-20, 21-17
Order of Finish: (4,2,3,5,1)
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama hosts its first invitational next time out with the Shoals Beach Bash from March 27-28 in Florence. UNA will face Spring Hill College, EKU, Tusculum and Austin Peay at the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
