FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 18, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team dropped the opening match of its Florida roadtrip Friday, falling to the FGCU Eagles by a 3-1 final in a battle between two of the top four teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
UNA continued its run of away contests with a trip to Fort Myers, Fla., facing the Eagles in a battle of fourth place and second place in the conference. FGCU started with the early advantage in the match, taking the first set with an efficient offensive attack.
North Alabama had offensive contributions from reigning ASUN Freshman of the Week Reese Ricketts (two kills) and senior Brenna Tietz (one kill), but FGCU's 12 first-set kills on .219 hitting percentage proved enough to take the first set, 25-15.
UNA's offense came alive in a close second set, using a late-set surge to tie the match at 1-1. The Lions took advantage of the service line, securing five in the period for key points in the set. Senior Elif Ozsoy secured three aces in the set, including two to spark a key 6-0 run to end the set with a 25-21 UNA victory. Three additional kills from graduate Jasmine Brooks and a block from Tietz and sophomore Meredith Brown also proved crucial in the set-ending run.
Set three ended with FGCU taking a 2-1 set lead off the strength of a solid offensive attack. The Eagles' 13 kills was enough to outlast UNA's nine kills. Despite a late run by the Lions, the Eagles saw the set out with a 25-19 win.
The fourth set was the most competitive of the match, with neither team able to muster more than a two-point lead. The set proved to be a back-and-forth affair, as shown from the 17 tie scores and six lead changes. North Alabama hit for its most efficient attacking percentage of the set, totaling 14 kills on just two errors on a .429 hitting percentage. Despite the totals, FGCU continued to battle, with the set going to a win-by-two scenario.
FGCU gained two quick match points in extras, but UNA responded with ensuing scores to tie the match back. The Eagles prevailed 28-26 to end the match.
UNA's record moves back even at 10-10 overall with the Lions now 4-3 in ASUN play. FGCU improves to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in the ASUN to remain second in the conference standings.
Brooks and Ricketts led the Lions with 16 and 14 kills, respectively, while Ozsoy totaled a match-high 32 assists and team-high three service aces. The senior is now nine assists away from accumulating 1,500 career assists for her Division I career.
Senior Brenna Tietz led with six blocks in the contest, finishing one short of tying her career high. Sophomores Nicole Sargent and Meredith Brown also had solid contributions at the net with five blocks each. Sargent needs two more for 100 career blocks.
Freshman Audrey Small rounds out the leaders with a team-high 14 digs.
The Lions get a one-day break before their next match at Stetson on Sunday, Oct. 20. First serve against the Hatters is set for noon.
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