FLORENCE, Ala. (November 8, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team won its 15th match of the regular season Friday night, taking a 3-0 sweep over the Austin Peay Governors in CB&S Bank Arena.
The second meeting of the regular season, the Lions (15-11, 9-4 ASUN) welcomed the Governors (2-24, 1-13) to the Bank in search of the season sweep. The first meeting resulted in a five-set North Alabama victory, while the second was a three-set shutout. UNA is now 7-4 inside CB&S Bank Arena this season.
In a match that had 25 tied scores and seven lead changes, North Alabama used a solid and efficient attacking performance to take the conference bout. Freshman Reese Ricketts had a career-high four service aces to highlight the win.
Graduate Jasmine Brooks, along with Ricketts, paced the offense with 12 and 11 kills, respectively, with junior Hayley Martin pitching in nine kills to finish third on the team. Seven Lions contributed kills in the outing, with sophomore Nicole Sargent (7), freshman Kinslee McGowan (3) and freshmen Audrey Small and Amelia Keating (1) adding on to the tally.
McGowan registered the team high in assists and digs, totaling 32 assists and 14 digs. Keating finished tied for her season high in blocks with three, rounding out the UNA leaders. Three other Lions tallied two blocks apiece in Brooks, Sargent and Martin.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1: UNA 25, APSU 20
The Lions started the match with a first-set victory, using key runs in the middle and end of the set to take the 1-0 lead. The teams alternated points early, with the largest lead being two by the Lions, when at the 8-7-mark, UNA used a quick 4-0 run to gain a 12-7 advantage. Austin Peay worked its way back in the set, responding with a 10-5 scoring run to tie the set at 17 apiece. Kills from Ricketts and Sargent sparked the UNA offense to a 6-1 run, taking the 23-18 lead and seeing the set out, 25-20. The Lions' defense made an early statement with four team blocks in the first frame, along with Ricketts and Brooks contributing a team-high four first-set kills.
SET 2: UNA 31, APSU 29
It was a matter of "who blinks first" in the second frame, with the two teams battling in the marathon set for the crucial second point. Austin Peay came out strong in the set, answering two-straight points by UNA with seven unanswered for a 7-2 lead. The Lions settled into the set, trimming the Govs' lead to 10-8 thanks to a 6-2 run in the middle set portion. North Alabama tied the match at the 13-13 mark, but another Austin Peay run gave the Governors a 20-16 advantage with the set nearing its end. Needing a response, UNA went on a 5-1 run to tie the set again at 21-21. The two teams continued to alternate points near the end of the set, needing a win-by-two situation to claim the second frame. The Lions upped their attack, forcing six set points before eventually taking the set, 31-29.
SET 3: UNA 25, APSU 17
An even start by both teams eventually gave way to North Alabama getting the job done with the third-set win and sweep over the Governors. The set was a tight-knit contest heading into the middle stages, but an 8-0 run proved too much for Austin Peay to overcome and force a fourth set. The run turned an 8-8 score line to a 16-8 UNA lead, with North Alabama keeping the Governors at bay en route to a 25-17 set win.
UP NEXT
The Lions prep for a Senior Day finale from CB&S Bank Arena against the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday, Nov. 10. First serve is set for 1 p.m. in the regular season home finale.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
