FLORENCE, Ala. (October 12, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team will play the last two matches of their six-match roadtrip starting Friday, Oct. 13 at Kennesaw State.
The Lions will face the Owls Friday evening at 6 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center before heading to Charlotte, N.C. to face Queens on Sunday, Oct. 15 at noon.
North Alabama was defeated in its last match against Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Stetson in four sets on Oct. 7, dropping their record to 10-8 overall and 2-4 in the ASUN. UNA looks to end the long road trip on a high note before returning to CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall on Oct. 20.
Tickets are available for purchase for the match against Queens, while the match against Kennesaw State is free admission. Live stats will be provided for both matches through StatBroadcast, and matches can be streamed on the KSU Owl Network and ESPN+, respectively.
MATCHUP
Game 1
North Alabama at KSU
Friday, October 13
6 p.m.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Watch
Game 2
North Alabama at Queens
Saturday, October 15
NOON
Game Notes | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
Meeting History: North Alabama has faced Kennesaw State eight times in volleyball, while UNA has met Queens on the hardwood only twice in the history of both programs. The Lions are searching for their first win against the Owls, with the last match resulting in a 3-1 win for KSU in last year's conference opener. On the flipside, UNA is 2-0 against Queens. The Lions beat the Royals in four sets last season in CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall. This marked the first meeting in 11 years between the two, as the Lions swept Queens in 2011 back in the NCAA Division II era.
Scouting the Owls: Kennesaw State (9-8, 2-4 ASUN) is returning to Kennesaw after a two-match trip to Florida, dropping three and five set matches to North Florida and Jacksonville on Oct. 6-7. Prior to facing the Lions, the Owls met Queens on the court on Oct. 10, with Kennesaw State defeating the Royals in three sets. KSU comes in to the match ranking in the top five in averages for points (third/16.46), hitting percentage (fifth/.226), assists (third/11.86) and kills (fourth/12.79), and a big part of that has been the performance of outside hitter Manu Johnsen. The sophomore from Copenhagen, Denmark had 22 kills against Queens, breaking a record for most kills in a three-set match. She ranks third in the ASUN in points and kills with 270.5 and 235, respectively, while also totaling 138 digs, 23 blocks, 22 service aces and eight assists. The Owls are coached by Keith Schunzel in his eleventh season with the team.
Scouting the Royals: Queens (3-15, 0-6 ASUN) will conclude their busy week of matches against North Alabama after facing off against Kennesaw State and Central Arkansas on Oct. 10 and 13. In the match against the Owls, the Royals were defeated in three sets in Kennesaw. Queens is currently 12th in the ASUN and is looking to get into the win column after a seventh straight defeat. The Royals average the most digs in the conference, with a 16.71 mark for a total of 1,086, and leading the charge is junior defensive specialist Jesse George. The Virginia native sits fourth in the ASUN with 282 digs, to go with 40 assists, 12 service aces and a .926 service reception percentage. Hannah Long will be at the helm for the Royals in her eighth season.
Scouting the Lions: After concluding the weekend against the Hatters, the Lions close out the end of their six matches away from Florence. UNA currently sit 10th in conference standings but sport the fourth most wins with 10 overall, below EKU (15), FGCU (13) and Lipscomb (11). UNA ranks in the top five in averages in points (fifth/15.80), hitting percentage (third/.239), assists (fifth/11.73), kills (fifth/12.53), service aces (second/1.77), digs (fourth/14.53) and opponent blocks (first/1.56). Leading the way in opponent blocks, graduate middle blockers Anna Katherine Griggs and Maggie Sullivan play a big role for that, as both rank in the top five in hitting percentage. Griggs is second in the ASUN with a .403 hitting percentage, and Sullivan comes in at fourth with .368. Griggs also has the sixth most kills in the ASUN with 202.
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