HATTIESBURG, Miss. (February 20, 2025) – The 2025 campaign kicks off for the North Alabama Beach Volleyball team on Friday, as the Lions open the season in Mississippi for the Beach Burg Invitational at Southern Miss.
North Alabama hits the road for the start of the new season, facing a competitive field in the debut event of the year. The Lions face two ranked opponents in No. 6 Florida State and No. 8 LSU, along with Atlantic Sun Conference foe FGCU and host Southern Miss. The competitive field serves as an early test for UNA, who come into the season with high expectations after a record-setting 2024 campaign.
UNA Beach Volleyball's season starts the morning of Feb. 21, facing No. 6 Florida State at 10:40 a.m. The Lions will conclude day one against hosts Southern Miss at 5:10 p.m. before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 22 against FGCU at 8 a.m. The Lions' final match of the weekend comes later that Saturday against No. 8 Florida State at 12:20 p.m.
Live stats will be provided for all matches with full results and a recap posted on RoarLions.com at the conclusion of the invitational.
MATCH 1
North Alabama vs. Florida State
Friday, February 21, 2024
10:40 a.m.
Live Stats
MATCH 2
North Alabama at Southern Miss
Friday, February 21, 2024
5:10 p.m.
Live Stats
MATCH 3
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Saturday, February 22, 2024
8 a.m.
Live Stats
MATCH 4
North Alabama vs LSU
Saturday, February 22, 2024
12:20 p.m.
Live Stats
NOTES
SPRING 2024 RECAP: The 2024 campaign served as a record year for UNA Beach Volleyball, posting a 22-13 record and setting the new single-season program record for wins. The Lions defeated two Power Four opponents —Oregon and Nebraska — and earned the first win over a ranked opponent in program history with a win against No. 20 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The season was also a record year for postseason accolades with seven, including four first-team honorees in former standout pair Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney, along with current mainstays Katy Floyd and Selma Robinson. VanDePerre was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year following the season – the first such award in UNA's Division I history across all sports.
FALL 2024 RECAP: The Lions competed in its second-ever fall season in 2024, prepping for the Spring season with six events across October and November. UNA won 23 matches in the month of action, appearing in three tournaments along with two duals against UT Martin. North Alabama also earned an at-large bid to the AVCA Pair National Championships in November, which saw senior Ryenne Gepford and junior Selma Robinson finish 54th in a field of top pairs from around the NCAA.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama enters the third year of the Kaleb VanDePerre era, returning nine players from the 2024 season with the addition of five freshman and two transfers. The Lions also return five of their top 10 from last season, including 2025 Unanimous Preseason All-ASUN selections Katy Floyd and Selma Robinson. North Alabama also returns senior Ryenne Gepford and junior Sarah Larkin Lewis, who won 24 and 17 matches in 2024, respectively. Graduate students Kaitlyn Holbrook and Marti McLaurin rounds out the top returners for North Alabama, with Holbrook winning 11 matches and McLaurin claiming seven wins.
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE: The No. 6 Seminoles look to build on a strong season from the 2024 campaign, opening its season against the Lions. Florida State finished 31-8 in 2024, leading to a Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The top returner is Audrey Koenig, who won 30 matches during the 2024 Spring season. The Seminoles are coached by Brooke Niles in her 10th season.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE SEMINOLES: North Alabama and Florida State will play in the second all-time meeting on Friday. The first meeting came during the 2024 season, where the Seminoles claimed a 5-0 win on April 4.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS: The Golden Eagles conclude day one of the Beach Burg Invitational against North Alabama. Coming into the season, Southern Miss looks to improve on a 2024 season that saw the Golden Eagles finish 14-24 overall and 4-5 in conference. Two returners for Southern Miss are Laurel Dennis and Sadie McAda, who tied the team high with 16 wins in 2024. The Golden Eagles' head coach is Shawn Taylor.
SERIES HISTORY VS. GOLDEN EAGLES: North Alabama owns a 1-0 record against Southern Miss, who played in the first all-time meeting on April 13, 2024. The Lions claimed a 4-1 victory in the lone meeting.
SCOUTING FGCU: North Alabama opens day two with an early morning matchup against the ASUN-rival Eagles. FGCU finished with a 17-20 overall record in 2024 with a 2-3 record in ASUN play. The Eagles went 3-2 in the ASUN Championship Tournament, falling to Stetson in the semifinal round. FGCU returns the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, Kaitlyn Luebbers, along with Preseason All-Conference selection and teammate, Nicole De Oliveira. The Eagles are led by Chris Sweat.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE EAGLES: FGCU and North Alabama have played six times previously, with the Eagles leading the series, 6-0. UNA met FGCU for the lone meeting in the 2024 ASUN Tournament, falling to the Eagles, 3-0.
SCOUTING LSU: The No. 8 Tigers serve as the final opponent in North Alabama's appearance in Mississippi. LSU had a strong season in the 2024 campaign, finishing with a 27-12 record with an appearance in the NCAA Championship Tournament Semifinal. The top returner for the Tigers is Parker Bracken, who went 29-9 in 2024 across flights two and three. Russell Brock is the head coach for LSU.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TIGERS: The meeting serves as the fourth all-time meeting between North Alabama and LSU. The Tigers lead the series, 3-0, with LSU taking a 4-1 victory over UNA on March 3, 2024.
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