NEW ORLEANS (February 23, 2024) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team opened the 2024 season with its first two wins of the year, defeating both Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans in day one of the Green Wave Invitational in New Orleans.
The Lions opened their campaign with a morning matchup against Southeastern Louisiana, defeating SLU with a 5-0 sweep for the first win. UNA followed with a more competitive bout against New Orleans in the second game, earning three wins
North Alabama opens the year with a 2-0 record, while Southeastern Louisiana starts 0-2 and New Orleans starts 1-1.
Match 1 — North Alabama 5, SE Louisiana 0
The Lions got off to a flying start with a sweep of the Southeastern Louisiana in game one.
Floyd and Robinson won 21-16, 21-14 over Mia McKinney and Mia Sauers for the first win in the second flight, while junior Ryenne Gepford and senior Martha McLaurin followed with a 19-21, 21-14, 15-10 win from Flight No. 4.
Graduate student Paula Klemperer and senior Taylor Seney — both preseason All-ASUN selections — clinched the winning point with a 21-19, 21-9 win over Andrea Da Silva and Rachel Hartmann from the top flight. Sophomore Grace Austin and senior Jelena Girod earned their first wins of the season with a hard-earned 21-19, 21-19 win over Jackie McGee and Emmaleigh Vincent at No. 5.
Graduate students Kaitlyn Holbrook and Mackenzie Martin rounded out UNA's first win of the year with a three-set 21-14, 19-21, 15-12 victory from the third flight, securing the team sweep.
1. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) def. Da Silva/Hartmann (SLU) 21-19, 21-9
2. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) def. McKinney/Sauers (SLU) 21-16, 21-14
3. Holbrook/Martin (UNA) def. Logarbo/Shepston (SLU) 21-14, 19-21, 15-12
4. Gepford/McLaurin (UNA) def. Engel/Lockwood (SLU) 19-21, 21-14, 15-10
5. Austin/Girod (UNA) def. McGee/Vincent (SLU) 21-19, 21-19
Match 2 — North Alabama 3, New Orleans 2
UNA won the first, second and fifth courts en route to a tight victory in the nightcap against New Orleans.
Two of the five matches went to a third set, with Floyd/Robinson winning a thrilling 21-19, 12-21, 15-12 match at the No. 2 spot. UNO matched with a three-set win on court four — 21-15, 18-21, 15-13.
Klemperer/Seney won another match from the top flight with a 21-14, 21-14 victory to give UNA a 2-1 advantage on the scoresheet. The Privateers equaled the score tally again with a 21-12, 21-12 win on court three.
With the top four courts an even split, the deciding point ultimately came from the fifth flight, as the Austin/Girod tandem wrapped up day one from New Orleans with a 21-17, 21-8 win over Salazar/Zecchin.
1. Klemperer/Seney (UNA) def. Garmon/Ozaeta (UNO) 21-14, 21-14
2. Floyd/Robinson (UNA) def. Volpi/Vujnovich (UNO) 21-19, 12-21, 15-12
3. de Carvalho Peixe/Lander (UNO) def. Holbrook/Martin (UNA) 21-12, 21-12
4. Baumgart/Hardouin (UNO) def. Gepford/McLaurin (UNA) 21-15, 18-21, 15-13
5. Austin/Girod (UNA) def. Salazar/Zecchin (UNO) 21-17, 21-8
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama will face Oregon and tournament host Tulane in the second day of the Green Wave Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 24, with first serve against the Ducks scheduled for 8:30 a.m. The Lions end the invitational against Tulane at 1:30 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
