HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 22, 2026) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team dropped its opening Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament matchup Wednesday afternoon in a 3-2 result vs. No. 5 seed Jacksonville in Huntsville, Ala.
The postseason began with a competitive bout between two to- five teams in the ASUN, but the battle went in favor of the Dolphins for their first all-time win over UNA.
North Alabama (21-13) opened the dual with a 2-0 team lead, thanks to two court wins from flight two and three. Jacksonville (16-17) responded with wins on courts four and five, forcing a deciding matchup between the top flights. The final match went into a third set, but the Dolphins duo prevailed using a mid-set run to seal the postseason opener.
The fourth-seeded Lions move into the elimination bracket, next facing eighth-seeded Austin Peay on Thursday, April 23 at noon.
Sophomores Jennah Atchley and Brooke Bolden claimed the first win of the dual for their 18th of the season. The two opened with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over Jacksonville's Avery Kliethermes and Breanna McDonough from flight three. Graduate Sarah Larkin Lewis and sophomore Paige Griner registered the next win and their 20th of the campaign in a 21-15, 21-15 win against Jamie Seward and Meredith Mrukowski from flight two.
Jacksonville took its first court from flight four with Morgan Perry and Kate Taylor defeating Emma White and Gaby Harnden, 21-18, 21-17. The Dolphins followed with a court five win from Maddie Fiedler and Katie Martinez over Lucy Wedding and Mabrey Whitehead, 13-21, 21-16, 15-8.
Court one began with graduate Audrey Gauthier and senior Selma Robinson taking the first set in a 21-18 win. Set two saw Jacksonville's Megan Hair and Claire Mrukowski answer with a 22-20 win to force a third.
Gauthier and Robinson held a 7-6 advantage midway through the final set, but three-straight Jacksonville points gave Hair and Mrukowski the 9-7 lead. The Dolphins duo fended off Gauthier and Robinson's rally to take the final set, 15-11.
1. Megan Hair/Claire Mrukowski (JAX) def. Audrey Gauthier/Selma Robinson (UNA), 18-21, 22-20, 15-11
2. Sarah Larkin Lewis/Paige Griner (UNA) def. Meredith Mrukowski/Jamie Seward (JAX), 21-15, 21-15
3. Jennah Atchley/Brooke Bolden (UNA) def. Avery Kleithermes/Breanna Mcdonough (JAX), 21-17, 21-14
4. Morgan Perry/Kate Taylor (JAX) def. Gaby Harnden/Emma White (UNA), 21-18, 21-17
5. Maddie Fielder/Katie Martinez (JAX) def. Lucy Wedding/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA), 13-21, 21-16, 15-8
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