RICHMOND, Ky. (September 29, 2023) – The North Alabama volleyball team was defeated by the EKU Colonels in a competitive four-set Atlantic Sun Conference battle on Friday in Baptist Health Arena in Richmond, Ky.
After a 2-0 start, the Lions dropped their second straight ASUN match to move to 10-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Though both teams having similar attacking numbers, the Colonels proved to be the more efficient attacking team with a .300 hitting percentage compared to .199 from North Alabama. The hosts also were more clinical on serve with 11 service aces to the Lions' five.
Set one was even throughout, with both squads exchanging the lead eight times. A kill by Katy Floyd got the Lions on the board, followed by two attacking errors from EKU to make the score 3-2. The Colonels responded with three-straight points of their own before a four-point answer from UNA, highlighted by an ace from graduate libero Luana Bulara. Neither team could extend a lead beyond two points until close to the end of the set when EKU score two straight to extend the lead to 23-20. Kills from junior outside hitter Katy Floyd and graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs would not be enough as EKU took set one by a score of 25-23.
Two EKU errors and two aces from senior setter Kennedey Johnson gave the Lions a quick start to set two. North Alabama controlled play early in the set, building up their largest lead at seven fueled by five kills from Griggs. With the score at 15-8, EKU went on an 11-4 run to tie the match at 19 apiece thanks to five kills and four aces. Both teams exchanged points until the 22-22 mark, but eventually UNA tallied three-straight points to take the second set, 25-23.
EKU grabbed the lead early on in set three, but the Lions made it competitive with four kills from Floyd and Griggs. Another kill from Griggs, two errors from the Colonels and a block from freshman outside hitter Avery Markham and graduate middle blocker Maggie Sullivan put the Lions back in striking distance. The Colonels responded with a 9-3 run to increase the lead to 19-10. After that, UNA went on an 11-4 run to come within two of the Colonels, highlighted by eight kills for the Lions and a third service ace for Johnson. Unfortunately for the Lions, the run ended there as EKU took the final two points to win 25-22.
The Colonels started the fourth set like the third, jumping out to an early lead before kills from Floyd and Brenna Tietz put the score at 5-3. EKU pulled ahead later in the frame and went on to win the set and the match.
North Alabama will have quick turnaround, returning to action tomorrow to face fellow ASUN foe Bellarmine at 3 p.m
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
