UNA Volleyball - 2006 Season

LIONS ADVANCE WITH 3-1 WIN OVER PITTSBURG STATE

UNA IN SECOND ROUND OF NCAA TOURNEY FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON

KIRKSVILLE, Mo., – The University of North Alabama volleyball team got 23 kills from Nilcia Oliveira and 70 assists from Laura Bellinger in a 3-1 victory over Pittsburg State in the first round of the South Central Region Tournament Thursday evening on the campus of Truman State University.

The 31-29, 27-30, 30-19, 30-22 victory puts the Lions into the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight season and improves the team’s 2006 record to 31-5.

“Offensively, we are a very balanced team, and that has been one of our biggest advantages this season,” said UNA head coach Stephanie Radecki.
“Right now, we have five players who are consistently getting at least 10 kills a match. If we can continue to do that, I like our chances”

In the first game, four UNA players had at least four kills with Bellinger getting 18 assists as the Lions won 31-29. UNA out-hit the Gorillas .237-.226 in the contest that featured 10 ties and three lead changes.

UNA trailed 25-18 in the second game before a late rally came up short. The Lions cut the deficit to two at 28-26, and again at 29-27 before a kill by Pitt State’s Laura Toman ended the comeback and gave the Gorillas a 30-27 victory.

The Lions took a 2-1 lead in the match after winning the third game 30-19. Oliveira led the way with seven kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Defensively, the Lions got 24 team digs and held Pitt State to a .091 hitting percentage.

UNA jumped out to a 4-1 lead and never trailed in the fourth and final game. The Gorillas trimmed the lead to 20-18 late in the contest before the Lions closed the game on a 10-4 run.

UNA hit .268 for the match, with three other players reaching double digits in kills. Danielle Palasak added 17 kills for the Lions, including the matches’ final point. Kasie Spencer and Megan Stout rounded out the top hitters with 16 and 12 kills respectively.

Blocking was again a huge factor for the Lions. UNA recorded 14 total team blocks, another season-high. Dee Ayres led the way with nine block assists, while Stout added six on the night.

“We have made a big push to become a better blocking team this year,”
said Radecki. “We have been able to improve throughout the season and are blocking best at the right time.”

Bellinger’s 70 assists was a season high and gave her 1,542 for the year. Five players also reached double digits in digs, with Ashley Hill leading the way with 32 on the night. Bellinger, Stout, Oliveira also each netted double-doubles with 24, 20 and 13 digs for the Lions.
Jessica Hansen also had 17 digs for the match.

The win will set up a showdown against top-seeded and No.1-ranked Truman State on the Bulldogs’ home floor. Match time is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Match 35 - Pittsburg State (NCAA Tournament)- Printable Match Statistics

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