FLORENCE, Ala. (March 28, 2026) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team concluded the Shoals Beach Bash on Saturday with sweeps over Tusculum and Austin Peay at the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts in Florence, Ala.
North Alabama (13-9) capped the home invite in style with a third and fourth-straight sweep over the weekend. The Lions dominated the Pioneers and Governors on day two after blanking both Spring Hill and EKU on day one of the invitational. It marked the first time in program history that UNA concluded a weekend invitational with four sweeps. North Alabama has also swept opponents in six of the last seven victories on the year.
Twelve players tallied a win with 10 finishing a perfect 2-0. Graduate Audrey Gauthier and senior Selma Robinson won both from the top flight to move to 13-6 on the campaign. Second-flight duo Sarah Larkin Lewis and Paige Griner additionally moved to 13 wins together after their 2-0 day. Sophomore stars Jennah Atchley and Brooke Bolden improved to eight wins as a pair with their wins over Tusculum and Austin Peay.
Senior Hailey Benesz and junior Lucy Wedding increased their season win total to seven after the two wins, and freshmen Emma White and Gaby Harnden registered their second and third win as a pair with the victories.
Junior Amelia Tomlinson and freshman Kiana Adamson added an extra win vs. Tusculum to conclude the action in Florence.
Match 1 — North Alabama 5, Tusculum 0
The Lions began the second day strong with all five courts decided in two sets. Wedding and Benesz nabbed the first win in a 21-16, 21-11 win over Jordyn Anderson and Solene Roussel from court four. Lewis and Griner picked up their first win of the day in a 21-16, 21-13 victory over Brynn Smith and Sylvia Liszewski from flight two.
The third win came from the extras court with Adamson and Tomlinson combining for a 21-12, 21-16 win over Jordan Kwalwasser and Ryann Gallagher. The next UNA victory clinched the dual with White and Harnden defeating Siri Aasgard and Ally Doty from flight five, 21-10, 21-13.
Gauthier and Robinson won from the top flight in a 21-14, 21-15 triumph over Hannah Marsh and Sofia Vega Barrantes. Atchley and Bolden closed out the dual with a 21-14, 21-15 win over Cooper George and Dasha Nikolaeva from flight three
Court 1: Audrey Gauthier/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Hannah Marsh/Sofia Vega Barrantes (TU), 21-14, 21-15
Court 2: Sarah Larkin Lewis/Paige Griner (UNA) def. Brynn Smith/Sylvia Liszewski (TU), 21-16, 21-13
Court 3: Jennah Atchley/Brooke Bolden (UNA) def. Cooper George/Dasha Nikolaeva (TU), 21-14, 21-15
Court 4: Hailey Benesz/Lucy Wedding (UNA) def. Jordyn Anderson/Solene Roussel (TU), 21-16, 21-11
Court 5: Emma White/Gaby Harnden (UNA) def. Siri Aasgard/Ally Doty (TU), 21-10, 21-13
Extra: Kiana Adamson/Amelia Tomlinson (UNA) def. Jordan Kwalwasser/Ryann Gallagher (TU), 21-12, 21-16
Order of Finish: (4,2,6,5,1,3)
Match 2 — North Alabama 5, Austin Peay 0
The 4-0 weekend was completed after a third victory over Austin Peay this season. Three courts were won in straight sets, and two courts saw UNA rally from a dropped first set to defeat the Governors.
Griner and Lewis started the dual with a 21-15, 21-17 win over Bailey Hope and Ashley Boswell from court two. The fourth court saw Wedding and Benesz battle back to defeat Emma Loiars and Cami Missig in three sets, 21-23, 21-10, 15-9. Court five resulted in the clinching win as White and Harnden beat Sage Raby and Emily Freel, 21-12, 21-17.
Robinson and Gauthier continued the winning UNA ways as they defeated Isabella Russell and Grace Austin from the top flight, 21-11, 21-15. The final win came from court three with Atchley and Bolden fending off Jordyn Beneteau and Addi Hultquist enroute to a three-set comeback win, 18-21, 21-14, 15-9.
Court 1: Audrey Gauthier/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Isabella Russell/Grace Austin (APSU), 21-11, 21-15
Court 2: Paige Griner/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Bailey Hope/Ashley Boswell (APSU), 21-15, 21-17
Court 3: Jennah Atchley/Brooke Bolden (UNA) def. Jordyn Beneteau/Addi Hultquist (APSU), 18-21, 21-14, 15-9
Court 4: Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA) def. Emma Loiars/Cami Missig (APSU), 21-23, 21-10, 15-9
Court 5: Emma White/Gaby Harnden (UNA) def. Sage Raby/Emily Freel (APSU), 21-12, 21-17
Order of Finish: (2,4,5,1,3)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions head to Atlanta, Ga. for the GSU Diggin' Duals from April 3-4. UNA is set to face hosts Georgia State along with UAB, South Florida and Mercer.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
