BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (September 4, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team is set for the second invitational starting Friday, Sept. 5 through Saturday, Sept. 6, taking on the Blazer Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.
UAB is hosting the two-day event, with UNA facing Tennessee Tech, USC Upstate and the Blazers. The Lions open Friday, Sept. 5, with two matches — Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. and USC Upstate at 4 p.m. The final match is set for Saturday, Sept. 6, against UAB at 3 p.m.
The invitational will be played at Bartow Arena on the campus of UAB. Tickets are available for each day of the invite and are on sale now through the UAB ticket office.
Live stats will be available for all three matches through StatBroadcast. The UNA–UAB matchup will also stream on ESPN+.
Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action each day, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Volleyball social media pages.
MATCH 1
North Alabama vs. Tennessee Tech
Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
10 a.m.
Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
MATCH 2
North Alabama vs. USC Upstate
Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
4 p.m.
Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
MATCH 3
North Alabama at UAB
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
3 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Twitter
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama heads to Birmingham with a 2-2 record after the first week of the regular season. UNA opened the season with two wins at the Maroon & White Invite, leaving Starkville with victories against Grambling State and Southeast Missouri. The Lions swept the Lady Tigers, following the win with a four-set victory against SEMO. The SEMO win marked the first victory over the Redhawks in program history. Junior Ava Martindale had a career-high 28 digs in the win versus SEMO, with sophomore Dylann Garner registering a career-high 21 kills against the Redhawks.
MAKING THEIR MARK: The new faces for UNA Volleyball have been impactful early on the season. Martindale set a career high in digs against Southeast Missouri, with junior Kendall Barnes tallying a career-high 21 kills against Alabama A&M. Freshman Jenna Kolosta has also had a solid start at middle blocker with a season stat line of 21 kills, six digs and five blocks. Junior Jessi Ritchhart has also contributed in limited action with a Division I career-high 12 digs against SEMO.
DISHING DIMES: Sophomore Kinslee McGowan has been the point guard for the North Alabama Volleyball offense, and her first season as the primary starting setter has started earning a career mark. McGowan tallied her 500th career assist against Alabama A&M, finishing with 49 in the match. McGowan has led in match assists in all but one contest (at Mississippi State) and is second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in assists per set (9.93). As of Sept. 3, her 139 assists rank first in the conference and 13th nationally.
SHE CAN DIG IT: Martindale has gotten off to a great start in her first season at North Alabama. As of Sept. 3, she leads the ASUN with 71 digs and is second in digs per set (5.07). Her digs total also ranks nationally at 12th.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech enters the weekend at 2-1, coming off an appearance at the Stacheville Challenge at Austin Peay. The Golden Eagles came away with two wins from the invitational, defeating the Governors along with Murray State. The weekend's performance resulted in outside hitter Bella Powell winning the Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 1. Tennessee Tech's Jordan Karlan also won a share of the OVC's Setter of the Week Award. The Golden Eagles are led by Jeannette Phillips.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE GOLDEN EAGLES: The meeting marks the seventh all-time matchup in series history. Tennessee Tech leads the series, 5-1, with the last UNA win coming in 1983. This marks the first matchup between the teams since 2019.
SCOUTING USC UPSTATE: USC Upstate sports a 2-2 record early in the season, recently falling in three-set defeat to Queens on Sept. 3. USC Upstate claimed 3-0 sweeps in the opening weekend over Tennessee State on Aug. 29 and Northwestern State on Aug. 30. On Sept. 2, the Big South announced Ady O'Grady, Kamyla Vega David and Summer Kohler as Player of the Week, Setter of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively. USC Upstate's head coach is Ali Skayhan.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE SPARTANS: The meeting marks the third all-time matchup in series history. Both programs have claimed a win in the series, but North Alabama has the last victory in a 3-0 sweep in 2005. The teams additionally played in 1994.
SCOUTING UAB: The Blazers enter the season's second weekend at 1-2 overall. UAB opened the 2025 campaign at the Crimson Tide Invitational, claiming their lone win in three sets over UNC Asheville. Jorda Crook leads the team with 46 points totaling 40 kills, eight digs, seven blocks and two service aces. UAB is led by Head Coach Betsy Freeburg.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS THE BLAZERS: The meeting marks the 12th all-time matchup in series history. North Alabama holds a 6-5 advantage over the Blazers, last defeating UAB during the 1982 season. The Blazers won the last meeting at the 2024 UNA Invitational, 3-0, on Sept. 13.
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