CARROLLTON, Ga., – The University of North Alabama volleyball team opened play at the 2015 South Region Crossover with a 1-1 showing, knocking off Nova Southeastern 3-1 before falling to second-ranked Tampa by the same score. With the split, the Lions are 16-5 on the season and will wrap up play at the event at 12:15 (EST) Saturday against Saint Leo.
Natasha Fomina had 38 kills on the day. The Lions also hit .276 as a team with setter Andrea De Leon producing 103 assists and a pair of double-doubles. The win over Nova also represented the only Gulf South Conference victory of the day in the crossover games. The SSC posted an 18-1 mark on the day.
Against Nova, Fomina had a match-high 23 kills in the 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 25-14 victory. Lexie Bradley added 18 kills and a .464 hitting percentage for UNA. After winning the first two sets, the Lions missed the chance for the sweep when Nova pulled out a 25-19 win in the third game. In the fourth set, Bradley and Fomina had six kills each as North Alabama led from wire to wire.
Jessica Austin added 10 kills while De Leon had 57 assists. Defensively, Peyton Lang led the way with 16 digs while De Leon completed the double-double with 15 digs.
In the nightcap, No. 2 Tampa had to rally to knock off the Lions and improve to 15-3 on the season. After winning the opening set 25-22, North Alabama missed an opportunity to take a 2-0 lead. UNA had four set points before eventually falling 29-27 in the second set. The Spartans held on for a 25-23 win in the third set before pulling away for a 25-18 victory in the final game.
Fomina (15 kills) Bradley (13 kills) and Austing (11 kills) against led the way with double-digit kill totals. De Leon posted 46 assists and 14 digs for her fourth straight double-doubles and 11th this season. Ashtyn Kapovich had a team-high 17 digs with Lang close behind at 15 for the match.
