CONWAY, Ark. (September 21, 2024) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team won two matches on the final day of the Central Arkansas Invitational on Saturday, defeating both Jackson State and Little Rock in Conway, Ark.
The Lions rebounded from the opening-day lost to Central Arkansas with two-straight wins against the Tigers and Trojans. Both matches proved to be competitive bouts as both Jackson State and Little Rock took sets against the Lions, but UNA stood strong en route to leaving Arkansas on positive note.
Graduate Jasmine Brooks had a career day for the Lions, totaling 38 kills on the day to lead both matches. She set a career high with 21 against Little Rock, which also ties North Alabama's Division I single-match kills record. She shares the record with senior Katy Floyd, who achieved the feat twice in 2021.
North Alabama won its fifth and sixth match of the season to improve to 6-8 on the year. Jackson State moved to 4-6 with the defeat, while Little Rock's record now stands at 5-8.
Senior Elif Ozsoy racked up 87 assists across both matches, with the Ankara, Turkey native finishing with a season-high 45 against the Trojans. She finished five shy of tying her career-high in assists set in 2022.
Ozsoy also tied with freshmen Reese Ricketts and Audrey Small with three service aces on the day, with Ricketts setting her career high with three against Little Rock. Small continues to pace the Lions in digs with 42 total against the Tigers and the Trojans. She tied her career-high of 22 in UNA's five-set win against Little Rock.
Capping the leaders for the Lions is senior Brenna Tietz with eight blocks, including tying a career high with five against the Trojans.
Opening against the Tigers, North Alabama's consistent offense and net defense led the way to open day two in Conway. UNA and JSU opened set one alternating points, trading scores up to the 10-10 mark. Kills from Tietz and Ozsoy gave the Lions a 12-10 lead, with North Alabama able to maintain the slight lead past the midway point. Jackson State was able to cut UNA's lead to 17-16, but the Lions responded with an 8-0 run to take the first set, 25-16.
The Lions continued to roll in set two, using 15 team kills in the frame to take a 2-0 set advantage. Jackson State and North Alabama were close up to the 12-10 mark when a 5-2 run increased the Lions lead to five points with the score 17-12. A further 8-3 run closed out the second set with UNA taking the win, 25-15.
North Alabama looked to close the match in the third frame, but the Tigers used a late rally to extend the set into extras and match to the fourth set. Jackson State won five-straight points to take a 21-20 lead after trailing by 20-16 previously. The teams continued to alternate points into extras, but a kill and UNA attack error gave the Tigers a 29-27 win in set three.
UNA seized back control in the fourth set, with the offense finding their rhythm and defense stepping up to hault the Jackson State comeback. The Lions led for all but one point, opening the set with a 5-1 to gain momentum in the set. North Alabama also used defense to all but close out the first match in Conway with four blocks – their highest among the four sets played. The Lions saw the set out and the match with a 25-16 set win to take the match, 3-1.
Match two versus Little Rock opened with the Trojans jumping out to a 12-7 lead. A response from the Lions saw UNA gain their first lead thanks to an 8-1 run to make the set 15-13 in favor of North Alabama. Freshman Reese Ricketts helped spark the run with two service aces, along with a kill from graduate Jasmine Brooks and three Trojan attack errors. The Lions were able to hold their lead as the set came to a close, using a late 4-0 run to win the first set, 25-20.
The Lions scored the first three points to begin the second set, but the Trojans used a 7-3 responding run to force the early lead change. Little Rock's offense produced 15 kills in the second frame, securing the second set with a 25-19 win to tie the match.
The tight contest remained close into the third frame, highlighted by 14 tied scores and seven lead changes. UNA had the highest lead at four points, but the teams continue to battle with the frame needing extras to determine who gets the 2-1 set lead. The Trojans scored first, but the Lions scored the following the three points to win the set, 27-25.
North Alabama took the early advantage in set four, jumping out to slight lead to open the frame. The Lions' lead remained slight, but the Trojans tied the match at 15-15 with neither team able to separate from the other. The set played into a win-by-two situation, and both teams took turns scoring two points into the extras. Little Rock went on to secure two-straight points to take the match into a final set.
Little Rock jumped out to a 3-0 lead to begin the final frame, but North Alabama responded with a 5-0 run sparked by two kills from Brooks. The Trojans battled back to tie the match at 10-10 and were even able to take a 13-11 lead towards the end of the match. Needing a response, the Lions received clutch play from Ozsoy with two aces plus kills from Tietz and Ricketts to spark a 4-0 run and win the match. UNA endured a second-straight battle in Arkansas but secured the five-set win over Little Rock with a 15-13 set victory.
North Alabama's ASUN schedule continues on Saturday, Sept. 28, facing the Jacksonville Dolphins on the road with first serve set for noon.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
