DELAND, Fla. (March 14, 2024) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team travels to Florida this weekend for its fourth season outing at the Stetson Invitational in DeLand, Fla.
The Lions face Charleston and UNCW on Friday, March 15. Atlantic Sun Conference matchups follow on Saturday with the Lions set to face No. 18 Stetson and Jacksonville.
The Lions hit the road for the first time in two weeks after hosting the UNA Invitational last weekend. North Alabama excelled in its home-opener, finishing 4-0 for the first time at an invitational this season. UNA won four-straight duals against Carson Newman (twice), Jacksonville and Austin Peay.
UNA heads to Florida looking for a second-straight undefeated weekend and seeks its first program win over a ranked opponent.
First serve against Charleston is scheduled for 9 a.m. CT while the second match against UNCW tips off at 1 p.m. Day two's first match comes against the No. 18 Hatters at 7 a.m., concluding with the final dual against Jacksonville at 11 a.m.
Live stats will be provided courtesy of SIDEARM. Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the invitational. Fans can also follow along on the UNA Beach Volleyball social media pages.
MATCH 1
North Alabama vs. Charleston
Friday, March 15, 2024
9 a.m.
Live Stats | (@UNA_BeachVB)
MATCH 2
North Alabama vs. UNCW
Friday, March 15, 2024
1 p.m.
Live Stats
MATCH 3
North Alabama at #18 Stetson
Saturday, March 16, 2024
7 a.m.
Live Stats
MATCH 4
North Alabama vs. Jacksonville
Saturday, March 16, 2024
11 a.m.
Live Stats
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama travels to the Sunshine State for the first of two visits this season. The Lions look to continue their winning ways at the invitational, also in search of the program's first wins over Charleston, UNCW and Stetson. North Alabama averages a 3.7-point margin of victory in nine wins this season.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Top-flight pair Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney continue to lead from the front, registering a 10-1 record through 12 games. The pairs' excellent start to the campaign was rewarded with the first two ASUN Pair of the Week honors – their second and third career honor.
ALMOST THERE!: North Alabama received votes in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Coaches Poll for the first time this season. The Lions received two votes in the March 5 edition of the poll, with Texas A&M- Corpus Christi (9), Tulane (6), South Carolina (2) and Boise State (2) receiving votes ahead of UNA.
TWO'S CREW: Junior Katy Floyd/ sophomore Selma Robinson have been consistent from the second flight, matching the 10-1 record of Klemperer/Seney from the first flight.
POWER FIVE, BEWARE: The 2024 season has provided early program milestones after the Lions defeated their first two Power Five opponents. UNA's first Power Five win a came at the Green Wave Invitational, defeating Oregon in a 5-0 sweep. The following weekend at the Tiger Beach Bash saw UNA sweep Nebraska for its second Power Five win.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON: UNA takes on Charleston in the opening match of the Stetson Invitational. The Sandy Cougs are playing in their second invitational of the season after facing Division II's Erskine on March 9, sweeping the Flying Fleet in a doubleheader. The lone invitational appearance this season came at the Wheeler Beach Bash on March 2-3, picking up first win of the season against Chattanooga. Leading Charleston is head coach Damian Elder.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE SANDY COUGS: This marks the second all-time meeting between North Alabama and Charleston. UNA looks to even the series against the Sandy Cougs after falling in the first matchup on March 13, 2021.
SCOUTING UNCW: UNCW looks to continue its best start in program history, coming off of a 4-1 weekend at the Barnes Beach Complex Runner Invite last time out. The Seahawks are 9-2 this season and won five-straight duals prior to their last loss against Cal State Northridge on March 8. The head coach for the Seahawks is Dottie Hampton.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE SEAHAWKS: The third meeting between the two programs, North Alabama seeks its first win against UNCW. The Seahawks last defeated the Lions at the Bear Beach Base on April 14, 2023 by a 4-1 final.
SCOUTING STETSON: The Lions face their second ranked opponent of the season in ASUN Conference member No. 18 Stetson. The Hatters are 7-5 on the season and maintained their ranking in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Coaches Poll – released on March 12. Despite the ranking, Stetson looks to improve from the 1-3 weekend at the Long Beach Invitational on March 9 10. Leading the Hatters is Kristina Hernandez.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE HATTERS: UNA seeks its first win in the fifth meeting against Stetson. The last meeting in the 2023 ASUN Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal came down to a third set of the fifth match, but the top-seed Hatters took home the 3-2 win to advance to the semifinals.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE: The final opponent of the invitational is Jacksonville. The Dolphins are 6-8 on the season, going 4-0 in their last outing at the Battle of the Bay Invitational. Jacksonville's head coach is Dylan Hough.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE DOLPHINS: This will be the fifth meeting between the Lions and Dolphins, with UNA leading the series 4-0. North Alabama went 2-0 against Jacksonville in 2023, defeating the Dolphins in the first round of the ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship April 21, 2023.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
