NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 11, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team's rally fell short Friday night in Nashville, falling 3-2 to the Lipscomb Bisons in Atlantic Sun Conference action from Allen Arena.
Despite the result, freshman Reese Ricketts proved instrumental in the comeback attempt, finishing her night with a career-high 22 kills against the Bisons. The freshman also broke North Alabama Volleyball's Division I program record in single-match kills, surpassing the previous high of 21 from both senior Katy Floyd in 2021 and graduate Jasmine Brooks earlier this season against Little Rock.
North Alabama evens its record at 9-9 with a 3-2 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Lipscomb also evens its record at 8-8 while remaining undefeated in conference play at 5-0.
Opening a four-match road swing against the Bisons, North Alabama had a slow start throughout the first two sets of the match. UNA went down two sets to none to start, but a spark from the offense propelled the Lions en route to a third and fourth-set victory. The match was decided in the fifth-and-final set, and despite the rally from the Lions, Lipscomb held on to take the match and remain undefeated in the ASUN.
Lipscomb opened with a strong first set, using a .469 hitting percentage to take the opener. North Alabama's offense tried to find its rhythm as the set went on, but the Lions' six service aces kept them in the set and in reach of the Bisons' lead. Lipscomb ultimately saw the frame out by a score of 25-22.
The second set again went to the Bisons, as Lipscomb's offense continued its solid showing with 15 kills and a .355 hitting percentage. North Alabama kept the set close at 14-12 midway through, but a 7-2 run for the Bisons proved the difference in a 25-17 set win.
Needing a spark to stave off the sweep, the Lions' offense finally found its gear in the third set. UNA totaled 16 kills on .371 hitting percentage, matching its total kills from the first and second set combined. North Alabama also had a big set from Ricketts, who after a slow start used eight kills to pace the offense for UNA. The offense proved the difference-maker, as a close third set went in favor of the Lions, 25-22.
Another strong offensive showing from the Lions proved key in North Alabama's fourth set. UNA's offense continued to improve, securing match-highs in set kills (17) and hitting percentage (.375). Ricketts stayed hot from her third-set explosion, surpassing the eight kills in the third with 10 in the fourth. Despite both teams racking up a combined 33 kills, North Alabama sent the match into extras with a 25-23 set win.
The final set was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams taking turns holding a lead in the deciding set. Lipscomb jumped out to the lead first, but North Alabama was able to tie the match at the halfway mark.
Tied at seven apiece, UNA took its first lead thanks to a 3-1 run to make the score 10-8. The lead proved short-lived, as Lipscomb responded with a 7-2 run to take the battle in Tennessee with a 15-12 set win. The Bisons held off the North Alabama rally to take the match, 3-2.
Two Lions secured double-digit kills, led by Ricketts' 22 and senior Brenna Tietz' 12. Senior Elif Ozsoy's run of form continues, with the Ozsoy totaling a new season-high 47 kills against the Bisons. She now needs 85 assists to surpass 1,500 assists for her UNA career.
Sophomore Olivia Fenoff tied her career high with four service aces, with the outside hitter apart of a 11 total service aces for the Lions. Freshman Audrey Small led in digs with 14, and the freshman duo of Ricketts and Autumn Holmes totaled a team-high two blocks each.
The Lions will stay in Tennessee for their next match, traveling to Clarksville for an ASUN matchup against Austin Peay. First serve from the Winfield Dunn Center is at 4 p.m.
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