TAMPA, Fla., – North Alabama’s return to the 2009 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament was short-lived. Saint Leo hit .319 as a team and recorded 12 total blocks during a 3-0 sweep Thursday at the Bob Martinez Center on the campus of Tampa University. With the win, the SLU Lions advance to the second round to face West Florida. UNA ends its season at 20-15.

 

Saint Leo, the second-seeded team in the regional tournament and the 12th-ranked team in the nation, held off a late UNA rally in the first set for a 25-20 win. In the second set, the SLU Lions led from start to finish, out-hitting UNA .382-.162 during a 25-18 victory

North Alabama held an 11-10 lead in the third set, but could not overcome a late SLU surge. A 4-1 spurt gave Saint Leo the lead for good and the higher-seeded team advanced to the second round with a 25-19 win.

 

Ari Smith led UNA with 11 kills on the day. The junior from Shannon, Ill., also posted a .318 hitting percentage. In her final match in a UNA uniform, Alison Jacobs again had solid numbers. The senior setter had eight kills, 27 assists and seven digs on the day.