FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team opened the 2021 season by splitting a pair of matches at the Shoals Beach Bash on Friday. The Lions knocked off Hendrix College 5-0 before dropping a 4-1 decision to Central Arkansas in a pair of rain-soaked matches at the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts.
Against Hendrix, the Lions swept through the top four positions before holding on at No. 5. UNA held Hendrix to single digits twice, including a 21-8 victory by Maya Dickson and Taylor Seney in the second set at No. 1, and a 21-9 win by Mackenzie Martin and Catie Ladner in the first set at No. 4.
In the Match against Central Arkansas, the Lions came up short in positions 2-5 before rallying for a victory at the top spot.
UCA (2-0) picked up straight-sets wins at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 to clinch the match. At No. 3, UNA's Lauren Quigley and Jelena Girod lost the opening set 21-13 before evening the score with a 21-16 win. The Sugar Bears, however, recorded a 15-9 victory in the third set to push their lead to 4-0.
At No. 1, Dickson and Seney lost the opener 21-18 before winning two straight. A 15-13 victory in the final set gave the Lions their lone point of the match.
UNA will play twice on Saturday to wrap up play at the event. The Lions will play Huntingdon College at 10 a.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. rematch with Central Arkansas.
