ATLANTA (April 12, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team ended its weekend from the GSU Diggin' Duals with a 3-2 victory Saturday morning over Louisiana Monroe.
The Lions wrapped up the weekend in Atlanta securing their 16th season win with the victory over the Warhawks. North Alabama and Louisiana Monroe battled in UNA's opening bout, with the Lions holding off the Warhawks to claim the first win of the day. UNA later faced No. 18 Georgia State in the final matchup of the invitational, with the Sandy Panthers taking their second weekend bout over North Alabama.
UNA secured a second-straight 1-1 day to end the invite with a 2-2 record. North Alabama's overall record stands at 16-12 and 7-4 in conference play.
Sophomore Aurora Bibolotti and freshman Pien Grooters led the Lions on day two with a 2-0 outing. The two secured the clinching victory against Louisiana Monroe before claiming the Lions' point against Georgia State.
Senior Katy Floyd and junior Selma Robinson also were victorious against the Sandy Panthers, along with junior Hailey Benesz and graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook.
Match 1 — North Alabama 3, Louisiana Monroe 2
The Lions engaged in a tough battle to open against the Warhawks, but a clutch, third-flight victory sealed the deal en route to the morning win.
ULM took the opening match from court four, but UNA's Holbrook and Benesz answered back to tie with a three-set comeback. The North Alabama duo overcame a first-set defeat to secure the following two sets in a 16-21, 21-16, 15-12 triumph over Paige Ingersoll and Maddie Peterson.
Floyd and Robinson picked up their second win of the weekend in the third completed match, winning comfortably over Kaitlyn Beck and Madeline Marque from flight one, 21-12, 21-11. The Warhawks took flight two to tie the dual, setting up the decider from court three.
Bibolotti and Grooters dropped the opening set against Ka Fredette-Huffman and Avery Hunter, 17-21, but the UNA pair responded strongly in the second set, 21-11. The third set ensued, but Grooters and Bibolotti secured the Lions' win with a victorious 15-11 final frame.
1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Kaitlyn Beck/Madeline Marquez (ULM), 21-12, 21-11
2. Abby Ryno/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Ryenne Gepford/Paige Griner (UNA), 21-16, 21-17
3. Aurora Bibolotti/Pien Grooters (UNA) def. Ka Fredette-Huffman/Avery Hunter (ULM), 17-21, 21-11, 15-11
4. Zsa Zsa Ferguson/Maggie Cox (ULM) def. Lucy Wedding/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA), 21-12, 21-18
5. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Paige Ingersoll/Maddie Peterson (ULM), 16-21, 21-16, 15-12
Order of Finish: (4,5,1,2,3)
Match 2 — No. 18 Georgia State 4, North Alabama 1
The Lions and Sandy Panthers faced off in the final contest of the invitational, with the hosts taking the second matchup in the 4-1 victory.
Similar to the first meeting, North Alabama took a point against Georgia State with Bibolotti and Grooters taking the third flight in two sets. UNA's duo secured their win with a 21-16, 21-18 result over Ella Mozeleski and Aliisa Vuorinen.
Wedding and Whitehead once again looked to claim a victory over the Sandy Panthers, but the two would fall in a three-set bout. Georgia State's Amanda Chambers and Caroline Zimovan overcame dropping the first set to take the match, 21-23, 21-19, 15-9.
Flights one, two and five were all won by the Sandy Panthers in straight sets.
1. Ayla Johnson/Aree Keller (GSU) def. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA), 22-20, 21-15
2. Savannah Ebarb/Destiny White (GSU) def. Ryenne Gepford/Paige Griner (UNA), 21-12, 21-14
3. Aurora Bibolotti/Pien Grooters (UNA) def. Ella Mozeleski/Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU), 21-16, 21-18
4. Amanda Chambers/Caroline Zimovan (GSU) def. Lucy Wedding/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA), 21-23, 21-19, 15-9
5. Danica Singleton/Michaela Jefferson (GSU) def. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA), 21-13, 21-17
Order of Finish: (5,4,2,3,1)
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama is set for Senior Day on April 19, taking on the UAB Blazers from the UNA Beach Volleyball Courts.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
