FLORENCE, Ala. (September 14, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team wrapped up the final match of the UNA Invitational on Saturday, falling in a five-set battle to Jacksonville State. The final set ended tight by a 15-13 margin.

The Lions move to 3-7 overall, while the Gamecocks improve to 7-3. Jacksonville State also earns the first win of the weekend after falling to UAB and Arkansas State on day one of the invitational.

The in-state rivals played a thriller in the UNA Invitational finale. North Alabama gained the early advantage with a first-set win, using 11 kills in the opener to pace the offense. Four kills from freshman Reese Ricketts and graduate Jasmine Brooks led the Lions on the attack, with freshman Audrey Small landing three service aces in the first set to spark UNA to the set win.

The Gamecocks answered right back with two-straight set wins in the second and third, but the Lions made the visitors work to take the 2-1 set advantage. North Alabama registered more kills than Jacksonville State, registering 25 total kills to the Gamecocks' 23, but timely offense from JSU provided enough for the visitors to take the lead.

UNA used an explosive fourth set to overtake Jacksonville State, using a team .391 attack percentage to send the match into a deciding set. Four Lions contributed two or more kills in set four, but the defense shined as North Alabama finished the set with six total blocks. Five Lions registered a block in the set with sophomore Meredith Brown making an impact in her first start with two.

North Alabama had a solid start to open the fifth set, jumping out to a 4-2 lead off attack errors from the Jacksonville State offense. The Gamecocks responded with a 5-0 run to take a 7-4 lead, but the Lions kept it close with the set coming down to the wire. UNA went on an ensuing 7-4 run to tie the set at 11 apiece, but Jacksonville State held off the North Alabama rally to take the match in five.

Ricketts led all attackers with 17 kills, tying a career-high set against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 7. Senior Brenna Tietz contributed an additional 12 kills while Brooks registered 10 kills to round out UNA's top three attackers.

Senior Eli Ozsoy registered a season-high 38 kills with Small leading with 20 digs and a career-high four service aces. Brown totaled a match-high eight blocks, finishing one shy of UNA's Division I program record set by Anna Katherine Griggs in 2021.

North Alabama embarks on a four-match week beginning on Sept. 18 when the Lions travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama at 6 p.m.

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