JONESBORO, Ark. (August 26, 2023) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team dropped a close match to tournament host Arkansas State in the final match of the A-State Invitational on Saturday in Jonesboro, Ark., 3-2.

The Lions (2-1, 0-0) started the same way in this match as they did the previous, taking the first set 25-21. The second set went back and forth until the Red Wolves (3-0, 0-0) took control of the lead, en route to a 25-23 victory in the set.

Arkansas State maintained that control in the third set, gaining a lead as big as seven to take a 2-1 lead with a 25-22 set win. North Alabama answered with a 25-20 victory in the fourth, which included a run of seven straight points, to stave off the win for the Red Wolves and take it to a fifth and deciding set.

UNA scored the first point of the final set, but that would be the only time the Lions led as the Red Wolves scored the next three points and held on to win the game, 15-13, and the match, 3-2. North Alabama scored four straight points with the match on the line to get within a point from tying before ultimately falling in the fifth.

Despite the minus-6 margin in total kills, 69-63, North Alabama were more clinical on the attack, leading both teams in hitting percentage with .263 compared to Arkansas State's .180. The Lions also led in total blocks on the night with a 10-7 advantage. 

Freshman outside hitter Avery Markham had her best game on the attack in her young career, leading in kills and total points for both teams with 16 and 17, respectively. On the defensive side, she had 14 digs, good for third on the team, to go with two blocks.

Graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs, who was named an A-State Invitational All-Tournament player, led in two categories on opposite sides of the net, leading in hitting percentage (.400) and total blocks (5). She contributed 12 total kills, which was good for third on the team and fourth overall.

The second All-Tournament player, graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan, finished with seven kills in the match and four total blocks, putting her only behind Griggs in rejections at the net.

On the offensive end, freshman outside hitter Nicole Sargent finished with the third-highest hitting percentage with .364. Defensively, her three total blocks placed her third among both squads to round off her night.

After going 2-1 in the first regular season action of 2023, North Alabama Volleyball will have a week to prepare for the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., facing Evansville in the first match at 2 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.