RICHMOND, Ky. (November 16, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team rounded out the regular season and its Kentucky roadtrip with a 3-0 defeat Saturday afternoon to the EKU Colonels.

The Lions (15-14, 9-7 ASUN) wrapped up the regular season in Richmond, falling in the second season meeting against the Colonels (20-9, 11-5 ASUN). North Alabama and EKU end with a split season series after UNA defeated the Colonels in CB&S Bank Arena on Oct. 4.

UNA clinched the No. 7 seed for the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, which begins Thursday, Nov. 21 at FGCU inside Alico Arena. UNA will play No. 2 Lipscomb in the quarterfinal round. Meanwhile, EKU secures the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 Jacksonville.

EKU got out to the quick start in the home match, taking the first set with a solid effort. The Colonels used a mid-set run to take momentum early, winning the opening set, 25-13. North Alabama improved with a better attacking performance in the second set, responding with 11 set kills on a .200 percent hitting percentage. The Lions held a 18-15 lead in the second frame, but the Colonels used a late 10-0 run to steal the set.

Another competitive set was to follow in the third, with UNA starting with the momentum early. The Lions jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the early stages, maintaining their cushion through the middle set. EKU slowly worked its way back into the match, eventually turning the tide with the score at 15 all. The Colonels scored four unanswered to gain its first lead at 19-15, then finished with a win.

One key moment came late in the third set, as an EKU kill was review and initially ruled a point for UNA to make it 20-17. The call was overturned, and EKU's lead grew instead to 21-16. The Colonels used that momentum to finish the match.

The Lions were led in points by graduate Jasmine Brooks and freshman Reese Ricketts, who finished with 13 and 11.5 respective points. Brooks finished the day with a team-high 12 kills, while tying the team-high with two blocks. Ricketts totaled 11 kills, three digs and a block on the outing.

Freshman Kinslee McGowan registered 18 assists to lead the team, with nine additional assists going to senior Elif Ozsoy. Sophomore Nicole Sargent secured one ace to lead the team, and the leader in digs was sophomore Olivia Fenoff with six. Sophomore Meredith Brown tied Brooks for the lead with two blocks.

UP NEXT

North Alabama secured its spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla., with the No. 7 seeded Lions set to face the No. 2 seeded Lipscomb Bisons in the first round. The three-day tournament will begin on Thursday, Nov. 21, with first serve against the Bisons scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.

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