FLORENCE, Ala. (September 2, 2026) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team had its home opener in CB&S Bank Arena on Wednesday, defeating Alabama A&M with a 3-0 sweep.
North Alabama starts the season 4-0 after defeating Alabama A&M (3-1) and opens the season with four straight sweeps for the first time since 2005. The Lions are now 5-1 against the Bulldogs in the Division I era.
UNA had three players with 10 or more kills in the home opener. Leading the way was senior Phoebe Reyes Fortunato with a season-high of 13 kills and a .321 hitting percentage. Junior Dylann Garner had 11, while junior Reese Ricketts had 10 with a .320 hitting percentage.
Junior Kinslee McGowan tied her season high of 35 assists, which happened in the last match against Mercer. She also tied her season high of digs tonight with 13.
Senior Ava Martindale had 16 digs tonight and six assists. Freshman Anna Hoffmayer had three blocks tonight and leads the team with 12 this season.
SET 1: UNA 25, Alabama A&M 23
This set brought five lead changes and 13 ties. The two teams' last tie was 23-23, which was followed by two attack errors by the Bulldogs for the Lions to take the first set. UNA had 12 kills this set, while Alabama A&M had 16.
SET 2: UNA 25, Alabama A&M 17
This set only had two lead changes, with the Lions holding the lead for the entire set after starting 4-4. UNA had 17 kills with six coming from Reyes Fortunato and four each from Garner and Ricketts. McGowan had 15 assists on UNA's 17 kills.
SET 3: UNA 25, Alabama A&M 18
UNA finished strong in the third set to complete the sweep, leading wire-to-wire in a set for the first time this season. Garner had four kills in the set — one of them being the final point of the night. Ricketts had four kills, and Reyes Fortunato had three. The team had its highest hitting percentage of the night this set with an impressive .323.
UP NEXT
This Friday, the Lions will play at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to start the annual Noona Kennard Invitational at home in CB&S Bank Arena. They will begin with Jackson State followed by Chattanooga later that night. UNA will conclude with UT Martin on Saturday at 3 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
