CLARKESVILLE, Tenn. (March 22, 2024) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team picked up its third Atlantic Sun Conference win in a 4-1 victory over EKU, while falling 3-2 to Austin Peay at the Stacheville Beach Bash in Clarksville, Tenn. on Friday afternoon.
UNA won its 13th dual of the season, finishing day one of the Stacheville Beach Bash with a 1-1 record. Following the EKU win, the Lions suffered a revenge loss to Austin Peay, marking UNA's second ASUN loss of the season. The final match was cut short due to injury, forcing North Alabama to forfeit the final match to secure the win for the Govs.
Junior Katy Floyd and sophomore Selma Robinson finished with two wins along with junior Jelena Girod and sophomore Sarah Larkin Lewis. The pairs of Graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook/sophomore Grace Austin and graduate Mackenzie Martin/junior Ryenne Gepford won their opening matches against EKU.
UNA heads into day two at 13-5 on the season, while EKU's record moves to 7-7. Austin Peay ends the opening day at 7-8, and Central Arkansas is now 4-14 heading into tomorrow.
Match 1 — North Alabama 4, EKU 1
North Alabama opened in Clarksville with a 4-1 win over EKU – the fifth-straight opening win at an invitational this season.
The Lions used straight-set wins from the fourth and fifth flights for the early two-point lead. UNA avenged a loss from the top-flight with wins from flights two and three to cement the first win of the invitational.
The Austin/Holbrook tandem took the first dual win over Emily-Kate Lonergan/Gabriella Armitage, 21-14, 21-10. The Lewis/Girod pair earned a 21-11, 21-17 win over Sami Deidesheimer/Arilyn Lee, which marked their fifth-straight win heading into the top three flights.
Graduate Paula Klemperer and senior Taylor Seney dropped their third match of the season from flight one, but Floyd and Robinson got a point back in a 21-15, 21-14 victory over EKU's Elpida Pitsigkoni/Bella Williams from the second flight. The win marked the ninth straight for the pair. Both of UNA's top pairs entered the invitational among the top five nationally-ranked pairs in the nation.
The fourth UNA point was won on court three, with Martin/Gepford securing a 21-14, 21-18 win over Riley Cutler/Madalyn Richardson.
Court 1: Paityn Walker/Sarah Mitchell (EKU) def. Paula Klemperer/Taylor Seney (UNA) 21-17, 21-17
Court 2. Selma Robinson/Katy Floyd (UNA) def. Elpida Pitsigkoni/Bella Williams (EKU) 21-15, 21-14
Court 3: Mackenzie Martin/Ryenne Gepford (UNA) def. Riley Cutler/Madalyn Richardson (EKU) 21-14, 21-18
Court 4: Kaitlyn Holbrook/Grace Austin (UNA) def. Emily-Kate Lonergan/Gabriella Armitage (EKU) 21-14, 21-10
Court 5: Jelena Girod/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Sami Deidesheimer/Arilyn Lee (EKU) 21-11, 21-17
Match 2 — Austin Peay 3, North Alabama 2
An injury-shortened final match gave Austin Peay their first win over the Lions this season.
The dual came down to the top-flight match after both teams split the first four matches. Klemperer/Seney took the first set, 21-19, before UNA had to medically forfeit leading 13-11 through the second set. The forfeit gave the Govs the 21-13 second-frame winner en route to the 15-0 final set victory.
North Alabama opened the contest with a win from the fifth flight, as Lewis/Girod finished 2-0 on the day with a 21-15, 21-12 win over Elizabeth Wheat and Tristin Smith. The Governors took court five in the ensuing match, but Floyd/Robinson followed by extending their win streak to 10 with a 21-14, 21-13 victory from flight two. Austin Peay tied the match with a flight three win before clinching on court one.
Court 1: Kelsey Mead/Aurora Bibolotti (APSU) def. Paula Klemperer/Taylor Seney (UNA) 19-21, 21-13, 15-0
Court 2: Selma Robinson/Katy Floyd (UNA) def. Jillian Stein/Jamie Seward (APSU) 21-14, 21-13
Court 3: Anna Rita/Riley Marshall (APSU) def. Mackenzie Martin/Ryenne Gepford (UNA) 24-22, 21-15
Court 4: Montana-Rae Pelak/Mikayla Powell (APSU) def. Kaitlyn Holbrook/Grace Austin (UNA) 21-14, 21-17
Court 5: Sarah Larkin Lewis/Jelena Girod (UNA) def. Elizabeth Wheat/Tristin Smith (APSU) 21-15, 21-12
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions look to close out the Stacheville Beach Bash strong on Saturday, March 23 against Central Arkansas. The final match is scheduled for 10 a.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
