LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 30, 2023) – North Alabama Volleyball lost the second match of their six-match road trip, losing to the Bellarmine Knights in three sets on Saturday in Louisville, Ky. All three sets were decided by two points in a close battle.
The Lions (10-7, 2-3 ASUN) dropped their third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference after defeats to Lipscomb and EKU in previous outings. Bellarmine capitalized on the attack, registering 52 kills to North Alabama's 35. The Knights also were efficient on the attack with a .312 hitting percentage. Although UNA would commit less errors than Bellarmine (25 to the Knights' 35), the Lions' .232 attacking percentage would prove the difference in the matchup.
In set one, North Alabama registered more kills than Bellarmine, 15-14, but the difference proved to be the service errors from the Lions. With the largest lead of the set being four by UNA, the five service errors proved costly as the Knights found a way to come back and keep it close. With the set at 23-20 in favor of the Knights, UNA went on a 4-1 run fueled by two kills by junior outside hitter Katy Floyd to tie it at 24. Bellarmine scored the next two points to take the set, 26-24.
A close set two was highlighted by the Knights' offensive prowess, proving more clinical on the attack with 19 kills to UNA's 12. Despite the offensive performance, errors from the hosts allowed the Lions to creep back into the set. With the largest lead of the set being four by the Knights, the back-and-forth set saw UNA come back to tie four times, but they could never gain the lead as Bellarmine went on to win the second set, 25-23.
The third set of the match saw Bellarmine continue where they left off with an early lead. Down 21-14, North Alabama went on a 9-3 run as sophomore outside hitter Lucy Wedding (one kill, one service ace), Katy Floyd (two kills) and senior setter Kennedey Johnson (one service ace) helped ignite the comeback to make the score 24-23. Ultimately, the Knights would score next to wrap up the three-set win, 25-23.
A highlight of the afternoon, Wedding had a career day for the Lions, setting career highs in kills (8), digs (7) and blocks (2). The sophomore finished with 10 points for UNA, second on the team behind graduate middle blocker Anna Katherine Griggs (12.5). Griggs also set a career high in assists with two on the night.
North Alabama Volleyball returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 7, when they take on the Stetson Hatters in an ASUN Conference match in DeLand, Fla. at 5 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
