UNA SWEEPS USI, FALLS TO TOP-RANKED GRAND VALLEY
ASHLAND, Ohio –
A pair of matches for the University of North Alabama volleyball
team produced opposite results Friday afternoon at the Ashland
Invitational in Ashland, Ohio. The Lions opened play by sweeping
Southern Indiana, but were later swept for the first time in 67
matches against No. 1 Grand Valley State.
Against the top-ranked Lakers, UNA held late leads in the first two
contests before dropping a pair of close decisions. The third game
was dominated by GVSU as the 30-24, 31-29, 30-19 defeat dropped the
Lions’ record to 4-2, equaling the team’s loss total from 2005.
Grand Valley dominated the match at the net, hitting .364 as a team
and recording 14 total blocks. Ashley Hill had 14 digs to lead the
Lions, who hit just .136 as a team. Offensively, Danielle Palasak
recorded 14 kills, while Laura Bellinger added 37 assists.
The Lions held USI to a .177 hitting percentage during the 30-25,
30- 25, 30-27 victory in the early match. UNA had 63 digs in the
match with four players getting double digits in the category.
Palasak notched a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs for the
match. Kelly Pratt rounded out the team’s top hitters with 15 kills,
while Bellinger added 44 assists and 14 digs in the three-game
sweep.
Defensively, Hill and Jessica Hansen led the Lions with 15 and 13
digs respectively.
UNA will face Indianapolis tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. before
completing the tournament with a 1 p.m. match-up against Northern
Kentucky.
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