STEPHENVILLE, Texas (September 26, 2026) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team dropped a three-set match Saturday against the Tarleton State Texans in Stephenville, Texas.
UNA (11-4, 1-1 UAC) participated in its first United Athletic Conference road match since joining the conference, but the Lions fell short to the Texans (6-9, 2-0 UAC) after a late rally in the third set.
Offensively, junior Reese Ricketts and freshman Anna Hoffmayer led the way, combing for 20 kills. Ricketts recorded her sixth double-double of the season after reaching 12 kills and 11 digs. Hoffmayer had eight kills and a solid .375 hitting percentage.
Junior Kinslee McGowan led in the assist column with 31. She also had two kills and eight digs.
Senior Ava Martindale and Ricketts led in digs after recording 11 each. Sophomore Jenna Kolosta led the team in blocks with three total.
SET ONE: TSU 25, UNA 18
Tarleton State opened the set 2-0 and held the lead up until a 9-9 tie. The Texans responded to the tie score with a 5-0 run to go up 14-9. This run was halted by a kill from Ricketts, which helped the Lions start a 4-0 run to get within one. Scoring went back-and-forth until the score reached 20-18, but the Texans closed the set with a 5-0 run that included four kills. North Alabama had 14 kills in this set, with Hoffmayer and Ricketts combining for 10.
SET TWO: TSU 25, UNA 19
The second set included seven tie scores before either team reached 10 points. North Alabama then went on a 3-0 run to go up 12-9. Tarleton State responded with a run of their own, scoring five straight to earn a 14-12 lead. UNA would then tie it up five more times, the last being 18-18, but Tarleton went on an explosive 7-1 run to win the second set.
SET THREE: TSU 25, UNA 21
Like the second set, the beginning of the third set was back-and-forth, including four tie scores before either team reached five points. North Alabama then gained the lead after a 4-2 run, but the Texans still stayed within one at 9-8. UNA forged ahead with a 6-1 run to go up by six to gain their largest lead of the day. Tarleton State immediately came back with seven unanswered to regain a one-point lead. A kill from Hoffmayer ended the run, but they had four more unanswered to gain a four-point lead. UNA had four late points to shorten the lead, but a kill from Tarleton State's Alyssa Dinh closed the match.
UP NEXT
North Alabama faces West Georgia on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Carrollton, Ga. at 5 p.m. CT for another conference road match.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
