DELAND, Fla. (October 7, 2023) – North Alabama Volleyball was defeated by the Stetson Hatters in four sets on Saturday afternoon in an ASUN Conference matchup in DeLand, Fla.
The Lions' record moved to 10-8 overall, including a 2-4 record in ASUN matches. Stetson moves to 9-9 overall and 4-2 in league play.
UNA played a competitive match, with both teams taking a set to open play. The Hatters' attacking precision proved to be the difference in the final two sets as they finished with a .396 hitting percentage despite the Lions being plus-12 in total attacks.
The Lions and Hatters started off exchanging points in the first set before Stetson gained the early lead at the 4-3 mark. Though competitive, UNA would be outscored 12-7 up to the media timeout to make the score 15-10. Coming out of the break, North Alabama scored two quick points off kills from graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs and senior setter Kennedy Johnson, but the Hatters scored three straight to force a UNA timeout. Freshman outside hitter Avery Markham halted the run from Stetson with a kill to force a side out with the score at 19-13, but Stetson took set one 25-16 thanks to a 6-3 run.
UNA set the tone in set two by gaining an early lead at the 6-5 mark and continued the run by scoring four straight to force a Hatters timeout. The Lions were on a six-point run before the timeout thanks to three service aces and one kill from Markham. Both teams were even up until the next timeout, as each team scored 10 points in the back-and-forth affair. Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fenoff led the way in the run, as the Hitters had no answer for her four kills. Freshman outside hitter Lexi Pendleton helped North Alabama even the sets with her kill, winning 25-21.
Stetson gained the upper hand first in set three, going on a 5-0 run after a 6-6 score. At 11-6, the Lions would side out after a service error from the Hatters, but Stetson continued to put points on the board with a 6-4 advantage. North Alabama pulled the score within seven at 22-15 thanks to a kill from junior outside hitter Katy Floyd, but three more kills allowed Stetson to take the swing set.
Set four started Stetson's way, with the Hatters going on a quick 6-1 run to force a North Alabama timeout. Sophomore outside hitter Hayley Martin's kill forced the side out for the Lions and sparked a three-point run to cut the Stetson lead to two. The Hatters would increase their lead to five by going on a 4-1 run of their own and continue to build their lead to seven to make the score 15-8. Two errors from hosts gave the Lions momentum, cutting the lead down to six at 16-10. Three more points from Stetson was answered by two kills from Floyd and Martin, with Griggs adding another, but after a second Martin kill, the Hatters went on to win set 25-14, taking the match in four sets.
Pendleton set career highs in kills (4), assists (22) and digs (6) with her dig total leading the team for the first time this season. Markham also set a career high with three service aces, all coming in succession in the second set. She finished her night with a near double-double with eight kills, 10 digs and an assist.
Fenoff and teammate Brenna Tietz paced the way in kills in a return to their home state, registering nine and eight, respectively. Leaders for the Lions also included Griggs with one block and graduate libero Luana Bulara with 17 digs.
North Alabama will continue on the road in ASUN Conference play, when they travel to Kennesaw State to meet the Owls on the court on Friday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
