HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (October 27, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team concluded the AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach Qualifiers on Sunday, Oct. 26, tallying 20 wins and an at-large bid to the AVCA National Championships.
Senior Selma Robinson and graduate Audrey Gauthier secured UNA's bid to championships with a fourth-place finish in the bid division of the tournament. The two will compete against the nation's best beach volleyball tandems in Huntsville from Nov. 7-9.
The two opened with a 21-18, 21-12 victory over Austin Peay's Alyson Cooper and Bailey Hope. The second match resulted in a comeback win against Tulane's Amirah Ali and Tawny Ensign, taking the match 15-21, 21-14, 15-13. The pair made it three in a row with a 21-16, 21-14 triumph over Chattanooga's McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik.
Robinson and Gauthier made the semifinal round but fell to UAB's Jasmine Haas and Olivia Stant by a 21-18, 16-21, 15-8 score. The UNA pair secured fourth place after falling to Tulane's Skylar Ensign and Molly Trodd, 21-18, 21-15.
Senior Hailey Benesz, sophomore Paige Griner, sophomore Jennah Atchley and freshman Emma White also competed in the bid division. Atchley and White finished 13th while Benesz and Griner secured 27th in the bracket.
Atchley and White had three wins on the weekend, opening with a 21-16, 21-19 win over Mercer's Kristi Talocka and Jordyn Thomas-Warren. The two dropped the next two matches but rebounded against Chattanooga's Taylor Clark and Julia Lawrence, 21-18, 19-21, 15-9. Atchley and White ended the weekend with a 21-19, 21-19 triumph over Georgia State's Kealy Dirner and Kaebre Sullivan.
Benesz and Griner secured two weekend wins, gaining their first in a two-set win over Stephen F. Austin's Ryann Allison and Brynn Dowd. The second came in a 21-18, 21-12 triumph over Mercer's Giselle Estrada and Shealey Peck.
Along with the bid division, 11 Lions combined for 12 victories in the tournament's open division. Eight players won two or more matches, led by five from freshman Karsyn Griffin and four from graduate Sarah Larkin Lewis.
For full results, click here.
The next outing comes at the AVCA Pairs National Championships in Huntsville from Nov. 7-9. The Lions will also compete at the UAB Invitational on Nov. 8 in Birmingham, Ala.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
