BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 7, 2025) – The University of North Alabama beach volleyball team opened with a 2-0 start at the March To May Invitational in Birmingham, taking two wins against the UT Martin Skyhawks and New Orleans Privateers.
North Alabama continued to roll in the third season outing, earning its fourth and fifth-straight win to open the weekend. The Lions also extended its streak of sweeping opponents, adding two more after sweeping South Florida at the Tiger Beach Bash last time out.
The Lions heads into day two with plenty of momentum, improving their record to 6-4 on the season.
Five different pairs for the Lions gained wins on the day, with UNA's top four flights adding two victories to their tally. Senior Katy Floyd and junior Selma Robinson stayed hot with their fourth and fifth-straight win, while senior Ryenne Gepford and freshman Pien Grooters extended their win streak to three after a 2-0 day.
Sophomore Aurora Bibolotti and freshman Paige Griner are on a five-match win streak, thanks to two wins on the day, and junior Lucy Wedding and freshman Mabrey Whitehead capped their day with two wins, extending their win streak to four.
Graduate Kaitlyn Holbrook and junior Hailey Benesz secured a win in their lone match against UT Martin, adding to their run with a fifth-straight victory. Junior Sarah Larkin Lewis and sophomore Hope Dicken capped the day by picking up a win against New Orleans.
Match 1 — North Alabama 5, UT Martin 0
North Alabama got the perfect start to the weekend, sweeping the Skyhawks in the invitational opener.
Starting from court four, Lucy Wedding and Mabrey Whitehead opened with a 21-13, 21-14 victory over UT Martin's Sydney Eckhardt and Ryan Rednour. Ryenne Gepford and Pien Grooters needed three sets but pulled through for UNA's second win of the day: a 21-14, 23-25, 15-13 triumph over the Skyhawks' Riley Rushing and Dylan Sulcer from court two.
Fifth-flight pair Hailey Benesz and Kaitlyn Holbrook continued their hot streak with a 21-17, 21-8 victory over UT Martin's Kristin Phillips and Reagan McGee. The No. 3 court also saw a Lions' win, with Paige Griner and Aurora Bibolotti picking up a 19-21, 22-20, 15-6 win over the Skyhawks' Kayla Bryant and Olivia O'Keefe.
The final win in regulation came from top-flight duo Katy Floyd and Selma Robinson, who went on to defeat UT Martin's Jenna Vallee and Dylan Mott, 21-16, 21-19.
The extra court saw UNA's Abby Robertson and Marti McLaurin face the Skyhawks' Lauren Mariscal and Kylie Surratt. The flight went into three sets to determine a winner, but the UT Martin duo saw the matchup out with a 20-22, 21-15, 15-10 triumph.
1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Jenna Vallee/Dylan Mott (UTM) 21-16, 21-19
2. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) def. Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (UTM) 21-14, 23-25, 15-13
3. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) def. Kayla Bryant/Olivia O'Keefe (UTM) 19-21, 22-20, 15-6
4. Lucy Wedding/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) def. Sydney Eckhardt/Ryan Rednour (UTM) 21-13, 21-14
5. Hailey Benesz/Kaitlyn Holbrook (UNA) def. Kristin Phillips/Reagan McGee (UTM) 21-17, 21-8
Extra: Lauren Mariscal/Kylie Surratt (UTM) def. Abby Robertson/Marti McLaurin (UNA) 20-22, 21-15, 15-10
Order of Finish: (4,6,2,5,3,1)
Match 2 — North Alabama 5, New Orleans 0
The second dual of the day resulted in the second sweep, taking the matchup against the Privateers with all five matches won in straight sets.
UNA's Gepford and Grooters gained the first win, defeating New Orleans' Grace Himchman and Ivana de Carvalho Peixe from court two, 21-10, 21-6. Robinson and Floyd gained their second win from the top flight, beating the Privateers' Nikelle Lander and Tristin Smith, 21-14, 21-12. Dicken and Lewis clinched the dual from court five, taking a 21-13, 21-13 bout against UNO's Ava Rixford and Dayla Ward.
North Alabama's Wedding and Whitehead secured their second win in a competitive contest, winning against the Privateers' Ashley Salazar and Jaedyn Newman with a 21-19, 21-18 scoreline. The final Lions' win came from Griner and Bibolotti, needing to win by two in the final set en route to a 21-10, 25-23 victory over Mona Salgado and Renata Dykstra.
1. Katy Floyd/Selma Robinson (UNA) def. Nikelle Lander/Tristin Smith (UNO) 21-14, 21-12
2. Ryenne Gepford/Pien Grooters (UNA) def. Grace Himchman/Ivana de Carvalho Peixe (UNO) 21-10, 21-6
3. Paige Griner/Aurora Bibolotti (UNA) def. Mona Salgado/Renata Dykstra (UNO) 21-10, 25-23
4. Lucy Wedding/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) def. Ashley Salazar/Jaedyn Newman (UNO) 21-19, 21-18
5. Hope Dicken/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Ava Rixford/Dayla Ward (UNO) 21-13, 21-13
Order of Finish: (2,1,5,4,3)
COMING UP NEXT
The March To May continues on Saturday, March 8, with the Lions opening against EKU at 8 a.m. North Alabama concludes the invite against hosts UAB, facing the Blazers at noon.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
