University of North Alabama

VOLLEYBALL TEAM ADVANCES WITH 3-1 WIN AT GSC TOURNAMENT

Printable Match Statistics - Arkansas Monticello

SEARCY, Ark., – Balance was the key for the University of North Alabama volleyball team Friday afternoon as the Lions advanced to the semi-final round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Arkansas-Monticello at Harding’s Rhodes Field House. UNA had five players record between nine and 14 kills, with four different players reaching double figures in digs.

The Lions (20-13) lost the opening set 25-19 before winning three straight to reach at least 20 wins for the 15^th straight year. With the loss, the Cotton Blossoms end their season at 17-18.

Sarah Roberts had a match-high 14 kills after being shut out in the opening stanza. Freshman Cara Gregg added 13 kills for UNA while Alison Jacobs had 12 and Ari Smith had 10 on the day. Kristin Zull rounded out the top hitters for the Lions with nine kills.

Defensively, Lauren Greenhill had 19 digs, while Brigid O’Brien and Zull notched 18 digs each. Jacobs also reached double digits in the category with 11 digs to go along with her 45 assists.

In the first set, Arkansas-Monticello grabbed a 10-9 lead and never relinquished control. The Cotton Blossoms extended their lead to 20-12 before UNA got back in the game with a 6-2 run to prompt a timeout. UAM secured the win by scoring three of the set’s final four points for the 25-19 victory.

Ari Smith had five kills in the second set to lead the Lions to a 25-17 victory. As a team, North Alabama hit .250 for the set while holding UAM to a .000 showing. After trailing 4-1 early in the game, UNA took its first lead at 11-10 and never trailed again.

The Lions held off a late UAM rally to win the third set. UNA led 21-17 before the Cotton Blossoms scored five straight points to take their first lead of the game at 22-21. After a timeout, Roberts recorded three kills down the stretch to lead the way to a 25-23 win.

In the final set, Gregg and Jacobs got five kills each as UNA held on for the 25-22 victory. The Lions hit .293 in the set and produced 16 kills as a team.

North Alabama will play the winner of the West Florida-Henderson State match-up Saturday at noon. The match will feature live stats and free video streaming found at www.roarlions.com.