FLORENCE, Ala. (September 4, 2026) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team went 2-0 on the first day of the annual Noona Kennard Invitational, earning 3-0 wins against Jackson State and Chattanooga inside CB&S Bank Arena on Friday.
With the sweep of Chattanooga on Friday night, the Lions won their 18th consecutive set to begin the 2026 campaign. This ties the mark for the most consecutive set wins to open a season since 2002 when UNA also won 18 straight.
The 2002 UNA squad took home a Gulf South Conference Championship and made an appearance in an NCAA Division II regional, finishing with a 30-5 record before winning the NCAA Division II National Championship the following season.
In the first match of the day against Jackson State, UNA had a four-way tie between kill leaders. Sophomore Jenna Kolosta, freshman Anna Hoffmayer, junior Reese Ricketts and senior Phoebe Reyes Fortunato all had nine kills. They all hit .300 or above, with Hoffmayer hitting .562, Kolosta hitting .467, Reyes Forunato hitting .348 and Ricketts hitting .300.
Junior setter Kinslee McGowan had a season high of 37 assists and continues to have 30+ assists in each match this season. Lions with 10+ digs tonight were senior Ava Martindale (19), McGowan (15) and Ricketts (10).
The Lions were stellar on defense against the Tigers, putting up a perfect 1.000 reception percentage between eight players. They also totaled seven team blocks, with Hoffmayer and Kolosta having three each. Junior Dylann Garner, Ricketts and McGowan had two each.
In the match against Chattanooga, McGowan finished the match with 39 assists, while Ava Martindale managed 21 digs. Garner led the team with 18 kills, while Ricketts added 15 of her own.
Kynli Kirkendoll led Chattanooga with eight kills.
MATCH 1: North Alabama 3, Jackson State 0
After evening it up at 2-2 to open the first set, North Alabama held the lead for the entire frame. Jackson State stayed within two until a 6-0 run by North Alabama with kills from Ricketts, Hoffmayer and sophomore Ally Greenwell. The Tigers got back within seven but were met with back-to-back kills from Rickets and Reyes Fortunato, along with a service ace from Ricketts for the Lions to gain their largest lead of 10. Anna Hoffmayer delivered the final kill to win the first set 25-17.
Jackson State held the lead in the beginning of the second set, with the Lions not gaining their first lead until it was 9-8. Jackson State would not see the lead again after that. The Tigers got within one, but it was met by a 4-0 scoring run from the Lions to go up 23-18 with help from Ricketts and Reyes Fortunato with a kill each. Reyes Fortunato had back-to-back kills to end the set and total five this set to lead the team. The Tigers had their closest set of the match with a 25-19 final. This set also brought the Lions' largest hitting percentage of the match with an impressive .364 with 10 kills.
North Alabama controlled the third set the entire time, giving up the lead zero times. The closest Jackson State got to North Alabama was 4-2, which was met by an 8-0 scoring run, including an ace from Reyes Fortunato and kill from Hoffmayer. Jackson State shortened the lead to 13-7, but the Lions shut the door and only allowed them to score four more times for a final of 25-11. UNA tallied 10 kills this set between three Lions.
MATCH 2: North Alabama 3, Chattanooga 0
The Lions jumped out to an early advantage in their second contest of the day, forcing Chattanooga into an early timeout in the first set after gaining an 8-1 advantage. Garner managed four kills for UNA In just the first 12 points of the match.
Chattanooga rallied to cut the UNA lead down to five, but the Lions rallied to a 25-14 set victory in the first frame. McGowan led the Lions with eight assists in the first set while Garner finished with five kills.
The two sides traded blows to begin the second set, with North Alabama holding a 15-11 advantage at the media break. A 4-1 run towards the end of the set bolstered the lead, allowing the Lions to take the second set 25-18.
Chattanooga flipped the script in the third set, jumping out to an early lead before the Lions evened the score at 14 apiece courtesy of a kill by Garner. The Lions battled with the Mocs late in the third set before prevailing with yet another sweep, 25-22.
UP NEXT
North Alabama returns to CB&S Bank Arena on Saturday, Sept. 5 to wrap up the Noona Kennard Invitational at 3 p.m. against UT Martin. Following the tournament, the Lions will travel to Nashville to face Tennessee State on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
