FLORENCE, Ala. (April 15, 2026) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team has its regular-season finale in Florence with Senior Day Weekend from April 16-17 at the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts.
The Lions preps for the final outing before postseason play with the second home event of the season. UNA will have an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup against Central Arkansas while also hosting Missouri State and Southeastern Louisiana.
North Alabama opens the senior day slate on Thursday, April 16 against Missouri State at 9 a.m. and Central Arkansas at 4 p.m. The Lions conclude the outing on Friday, April 17 at 9 a.m. against Southeastern Louisiana.
The Lions will have a Senior Day ceremony on Thursday following the 4 p.m. Central Arkansas contest. Six Lions will be honored during the ceremony in Selma Robinson, Audrey Gauthier, Sarah Larkin Lewis, Hailey Benesz, Lucy Wedding and Abby Robertson.
Live stats will be provided for each dual through StatBroadcast. Live stream coverage will also be available on ESPN+ for all three UNA matches. "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray will be on the call along with UNA head volleyball coach Tristan Johnson and sand-side reporter Arielle Schafer.
Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following each day. Fans can also follow along on the UNA Beach Volleyball social media pages.
DUAL 1
North Alabama vs. Missouri State
Thursday, April 16, 2026
9 a.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Twitter
DUAL 2
North Alabama vs. Central Arkansas
Thursday, April 16, 2026
4 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Twitter
DUAL 3
North Alabama vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Friday, April 17, 2026
9 a.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Twitter
NOTES
THE SEASON SO FAR: North Alabama enters the home outing with a 18-12 overall record while 5-2 against ASUN competition. Last time out, they won three of four duals at the Scenic City Showdown from April 10-11 against EKU, Berry College and UT Martin. The Lions have won seven of their last 10 duals and are on pace to breaking their single season record in wins. The current record was set in 2024 with 22 wins. Key wins this season has included a 3-2 win over UAB on Feb. 21 – the second all-time win over the Blazers in series history. UNA also has a 3-2 victory vs. Georgia State on April 3 – the first all-time win over Georgia State. UNA looks to maintain its perfect record in home matches after securing four sweeps at the Shoals Beach Bash from March 27-28. It was the first time in program history UNA swept all opponents in a weekend invitational.
ALONE AT THE TOP: Robinson added to her stellar career last time out with a program-record achievement. Robinson made history by becoming the all-time wins leader with her victory against Berry on April 11. The victory marked the 89th of her career, moving ahead of the 88 career wins set by former partner and UNA standout, Katy Floyd. Floyd broke the record herself slightly over a year ago, earning her then-record 84th win on April 5, 2025.
NUMBERO UNO: Robinson and Gauthier have been a force from the top flight with a 19-8 record. They enter the weekend victorious in seven of their 10 matches while on a current five-match winning streak. The duo leads the team in pair victories, and the two rank top two individually in season wins. Robinson has the team high with 21 while Gauthier is tied for second with 19.
TERRIFIC TWOS: Lewis and sophomore Paige Griner rank second on the team with 17 as a pair. Winners of seven of their last 10, the two look to extend their winning ways. The two also have a ranked win this season after picking up a victory against #20 South Carolina on March 20. Lewis and Griner are tied for fourth on the team with 18 individual wins each.
THE THRIVING THREES: Sophomores Jennah Atchley and Brooke Bolden are thriving from the third flight, ranking third on the team with a 14-7 record. The duo looks to extend its winning ways after winning eight of the last 10. The pair were also named the Atlantic Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week on Tuesday, April 7. They became the third different pair in program history to take home the honor and the first in nearly two seasons.
VETERAN PRESENCE: Benesz, Wedding, and sophomore Mabrey Whitehead have been key in the Lions' success this season. Wedding has provided steady results with 13 wins this campaign while Benesz has chipped in 10 wins. Whitehead has produced in limited action, adding seven victories.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: Freshmen Emma White and Gaby Harnden have been impact first-year players for the Lions this season. White has 10 wins on the year, helping hold down the fifth flight with eight. Harnden has also been solid with eight wins with six coming from flight five.
SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE: Missouri State leads Conference USA with a 21-3 record while 3-0 mark in conference play. They swept their last outing at the Austin Peay Invitational, claiming wins over Southwest Baptist, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. The Beach Bears enter with a six-match winning streak after prior wins against Eckerd and Southwest Baptist. Amanda Cleary and MacKenzie Steele lead from the top flight and are coming off a four-win performance last time out. Ashley Emery serves as the head coach for Missouri State.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE BEACH BEARS: North Alabama looks to stay unbeaten against Missouri State, leading the series 2-0. UNA defeated the Beach Bears with a 3-0 victory at the Shoals Beach Bash on March 14, 2025.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Central Arkansas holds a 13-14 record while 1-1 against ASUN opponents. The Beach Bears' last outing resulted in 4-1 wins over Spring Hill College and New Orleans at the Battle on the Bayou at LSU. Central Arkansas has had positive results as of late, winning eight of its last 10 matches. The head coach for the Beach Bears is Avery Thibodeaux.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE BEACH BEARS: North Alabama goes for its fifth-straight victory in the 11th all-time meeting against Central Arkansas. The Beach Bears lead the series 6-4, but the Lions have not lost in the series since April 3, 2021. UNA swept Central Arkansas last time out on April 4, 2025.
SCOUTING SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA: Southeastern Louisiana makes the trip to Florence with a 14-12 record while 5-2 in the Southland Conference. Last time out, the Sandy Lions defeated Nicolls and New Orleans at the Battle on the Bayou in Baton Rouge, La. Southeastern Louisiana looks to continue its winning ways after winning eight of their last 10 duals. Gabriela Hrubanova and Mia Sauers are the top-flight pair for the Sandy Lions. Angie Simpson is the head coach for Southeastern Louisiana.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE SANDY LIONS: UNA leads the all-time series, 5-0 and looks to maintain its perfect record. The Lions claimed a sweep over the Sandy Lions at the FSU Unconquered Invitational on Feb. 20.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
