FLORENCE, Ala. (March 27, 2026) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team finished a perfect 2-0 to open the Shoals Beach Bash in Florence with two sweeps over Spring Hill and Eastern Kentucky on Friday at the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts.
North Alabama (11-9) concluded day one of the home invite setting the tone with strong performances. The Lions started hot with the sweep over Spring Hill before momentum continued in a sweep against Atlantic Sun Conference opponent EKU. The wins marked the 10th and 11th of the campaign while the EKU victory marked the third over an Atlantic Sun Conference foe.
Fourteen players picked up one win on the day while eight finished 2-0. Two pairs finished unbeaten to open the invite in sophomore Paige Griner and graduate Sarah Larkin Lewis along with junior Lucy Wedding and senior Hailey Benesz. Senior Selma Robinson, sophomore Jennah Atchley, sophomore Brooke Bolden and freshman Gaby Harnden each tallied 2-0 opening days, as well.
Graduate Audrey Gauthier, junior Abby Robertson, freshman Karsyn Griffin and freshman Emma White finished with one win each in regulation. Junior Amelia Tomlinson and freshman Kiana Adamson additionally tallied a win in extras to round out UNA's winners on day one.
Match 1 — North Alabama 5, Spring Hill 0
The Lions kicked off the day with a winning performance against the Sandy Badgers. Three of the five regulation matches were won in straight sets, with the two three-set contests seeing UNA finishing strong enroute to the victory.
The extra match concluded first, seeing Adamson and Tomlinson defeat Ella Faliveno and Felicity Evans, 21-9, 21-15. Robinson and Atchley tallied the first regulation point with a 23-21, 21-15 win from court two over Ally Lane and Claire Hayes. Bolden and Harnden followed with a 21-15, 21-19 victory from court four over Reagan Huff and Lillie Casey.
The top-flight duo of sophomore Griner and Lewis clinched the dual over Marissa Peck and Jaylyne Bell, 21-13, 21-18. Robertson and Griffin tallied the next win from court five in a 21-16, 19-21, 15-8 triumph over Megan Pullizano and Mia Johnson. Benesz and Wedding ended the dual with a victory of their own – a 21-14, 18-21, 15-8 victory over Ashlyn Whiteside and Landry Tea.
Court 1: Paige Griner/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Marissa Peck/Jaylyne Bell (SHC), 21-13, 21-18
Court 2: Selma Robinson/Jennah Atchley (UNA) def. Ally Lane/Claire Hayes (SHC), 23-21, 21-15
Court 3: Hailey Benesz/Lucy Wedding (UNA) def. Ashlyn Whiteside/Landry Tea (SHC), 21-14, 18-21, 15-8
Court 4: Brooke Bolden/Gaby Harnden (UNA) def. Reagan Huff/Lillie Casey (SHC), 21-15, 21-19
Court 5: Abby Robertson/Karsyn Griffin (UNA) def. Megan Pulizzano/Mia Johnson (SHC), 21-16, 19-21, 15-8
Extra: Kiana Adamson/Amelia Tomlinson (UNA) def. Ella Faliveno/Felicity Evans (SHC), 21-9, 21-15
Order of Finish: (6,2,4,1,5,3)
Match 2 — North Alabama 5, EKU 0
The Lions ended the day how they began with a sweep over the Colonels to cap the day. North Alabama and EKU played competitive bouts from all six flights, but the Lions held strong to take all six in straight sets.
Extras began with Griffin and Robertson defeating Zsa Zsa Ferguson and Tatum Meinerz, 21-19, 21-14. Wedding and Benesz picked up their second win of the day with a 21-15, 21-11 victory over Elpida Pitsigkoni and Maddie Knaack from court four. Griner and Lewis also doubled their win tally from court two in 21-19, 23-21 triumph over Carlyn Mcallister and Gabriella Armitage.
Atchley and Bolden won the dual for UNA in a 25-23, 21-13 victory from court three over Amanda Floystad and Sutton Sales. Gauthier and Robinson resumed their top-flight duties to defeat Molly Shomock and Riley Cutler, 21-18, 24-22. The final win came courtesy of White and Harnden in a 31-29, 21-13 victory over Sami Deidesheimer and Arilyn Lee.
Court 1: Audrey Gauthier/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Molly Shomock/Riley Cutler (EKU), 21-18, 24-22
Court 2: Paige Griner/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Carlyn Mcallister/Gabriella Armitage (EKU), 21-19, 23-21
Court 3: Jennah Atchley/Brooke Bolden (UNA) def. Amanda Floystad/Sutton Sales (EKU), 25-23, 21-13
Court 4: Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA) def. Elpida Pitsigkoni/Maddie Knaack (EKU), 21-15, 21-11
Court 5: Emma White/Gaby Harnden (UNA) def. Sami Deidesheimer/Arilyn Lee (EKU), 31-29, 21-13
Extra: Karsyn Griffin/Abby Robertson (UNA) def. Zsa Zsa Ferguson/Tatum Meinerz (EKU), 21-19, 21-14
Order of Finish: (6,4,2,3,1,5)
COMING UP NEXT
UNA continues in the Shoals with day two action tomorrow against Tusculum at noon and Austin Peay at 4 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
