AUBURN, Ala. (August 29, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team will open the 2024 season Friday, August 30, as the Lions get set for the weekend at the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Ala.
The start of the regular season is finally here, and the Lions will look to start the season on a high note as they prep for the weekend's invitational. North Alabama will head into Friday facing invitational host Auburn at 10 a.m. before taking on Wofford to end day one at 4:30 p.m. UNA will end the weekend with an August 31 matchup against Georgia Southern, scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. first serve.
The invitational will be played at the Neville Arena on the campus of Auburn and is free of charge to all spectators.
Only the Lions' match against Auburn will be streamed on SEC Network+, but live stats will be provided for all three matches through StatBroadcast. Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action each day, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Volleyball social media pages.
MATCH 1
North Alabama at Auburn
Friday, August 30, 2024
10 a.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Twitter
MATCH 2
North Alabama vs. Wofford
Friday, August 30, 2024
4:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter
MATCH 3
North Alabama vs. Georgia Southern
Saturday, August 31, 2024
10:30 a.m.
Live Stats | Twitter
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama heads into the 2024 season with high expectations after a program-record year in 2023. The Lions finished with a 17-12 record and a 9-7 record in 2023, which was the most total and conference wins in the Division I era. They also finished the season with their first appearance in the ASUN Volleyball Tournament, facing Kennesaw State in the opening round. Forty-seven percent of contributions return in 2024, led by seniors Katy Floyd and Brenna Tietz. The two each finished with 233 points, which tied for second on the team in 2023.
PRESEASON PRESS: The Lions were voted fourth in the ASUN Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll on August 21, marking the highest coaches poll ranking in UNA's Division I era. UNA's previous highest ranking was eighth, a mark they were voted twice prior to the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
SCOUTING AUBURN: Auburn will look to kick off their 2024 season on a high note, taking on the Lions in the opening match. The Tigers compete in the Southeastern Conference, going 20-10 in 2023 with a 10-8 record in SEC play. Their season culminated in an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Western Michigan in the first round. Auburn returns their top statistical player in points in Madison Scheer, who led the Tigers with 414 points and 385 kills in 2023. The head coach for Auburn is Brent Crouch, coaching in his fifth season.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE TIGERS: UNA faces Auburn in the third all-time meeting between the two programs, as the Lions are looking for their first win against the Tigers. The first meeting came in 1979, and the most recent meeting happened in 2021.
SCOUTING WOFFORD: North Alabama will end day one of the invitational with an afternoon bout against the Terriers. Wofford competes in the Southern Conference, going 23-8 in 2023 with an 11-5 record in conference play. The Terriers were the 2023 SoCon Tournament champions, defeating Samford, 3-1, to claim their first title in program history. They made the ensuing NCAA Tournament but fell to the Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round. The top returner for Wofford is Mary Emily Morgan, who's 284 points in 2023 finished third on the team. She finished second in kills with 242, also finishing second in digs with 305. Wofford is led by Lynze Roos in her 10th season with the Terriers.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE TERRIERS: North Alabama will go for their first win against the Terriers in the second all-time meeting. The first meeting came in 2021 at the Wofford Classic.
SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN: The Lions' invitational in Auburn will end with a Saturday morning matchup against the Eagles. Georgia Southern is coming off a 23-9 season in 2023, also sporting a 10-6 record in the Sun Belt Conference. The Eagles made the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, winning the opening match against Arkansas State before falling South Alabama in the second round. The Eagles were invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championships following the tournament, going 2-1 with a quarterfinal defeat to South Florida. Georgia Southern returned their top points leader from 2023 in Reagan Barth, who led the Eagles with 414 points. She also led in kills and aces with 353 and 40, respectively. Georgia Southern's is led by sixth-year head coach Chad Willis.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE EAGLES: This will mark the second all-time meeting between the Lions and Eagles. North Alabama won the first-ever meeting in 1985, claiming a 2-0 win over the Eagles at the West Georgia Invitational.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
