FLORENCE
– After dropping its opening match of
the 2009 UNA Classic to 20th-ranked
Indianapolis, the University of North
Alabama volleyball team came up short
again in the nightcap with a 3-2 defeat
at the hands of California-Pennsylvania
Friday evening at Flowers Hall. The two
losses give the Lions a 1-5 overall
record.
In the first match, the Lions took the
first set 25-23 before dropping three in
a row to the Greyhounds. Indianapolis
was able to remain undefeated on the
year at 6-0 by posting a solid team
hitting percentage in each set. The
Greyhounds finished with a .234 showing,
while UNA hit just .146 for the match.
Indianapolis quickly tied the match with
a 25-18 win in the second set. After
holding on for a close 25-23 win in Game
3, the Greyhounds finished the match
with a 25-21 showing in the final set.
Three UNA players reached double digits
in kills, including Sarah Roberts’
team-high 13. Ari Smith and Cara Gregg
added 11 kills each while Alison Jacobs
turned in a double-double with 43
assists and 12 digs. Brigid O’Brien
recorded a new career-high total in digs
with 24 for the match.
Against California-Pennsylvania, coached
by former UNA assistant coach Stephanie
Burner, the Lions trailed 2-1 before
rallying to force a fifth set. UNA led
8-5 in the deciding set before the
Vulcans scored 10 of the final 13 points
to score the victory.
Jacobs recorded a double-double with 35
assists and 13 digs. She added seven
kills and a .375 hitting percentage.
Roberts again paced the offensive attack
with a career-high 19 kills. She added
four blocks while Gregg reached 10 kills
for the match.
O’Brien added 22 digs for the Lions
while Kristin Zull recorded 18 for UNA.
UNA had its best showing in the first
set, hitting .367 as a team en route to
a 25-22 victory. The Vulcans responded
with 25-18, 25-21 wins to take the
overall lead in the match. The Lions
were able to force a deciding set by
hitting .282 as a team in the fourth set
to grab a 25-18 win.
North Alabama will conclude play at the
UNA Classic on Saturday with two more
match against NCAA tournament teams. The
Lions will take on 13th-ranked
Truman State at 11 a.m. before facing
Northern Kentucky at 3 p.m.
