North Alabama Opens UAC Season at Home Against Abilene Christian
The Lions face the Wildcats in CB&S Bank Arena on Thursday to kick off conference play.
Key points
- North Alabama opens UAC play at home Thursday against Abilene Christian at 6 p.m.
- The Lions lead the conference in hitting percentage, kills, and assists per set.
- Abilene Christian enters the match on a three-game winning streak with an 8-4 record.
Florence, Ala. The University of North Alabama volleyball team opens United Athletic Conference play Thursday against Abilene Christian. The match starts at 6 p.m. inside CB&S Bank Arena. It marks the first home game since Sept. 5.
The Lions carry a 10-3 record into this contest. They began the season with 10 straight wins, the best start since 2005. However, they have lost three matches in a row. Those defeats came against strong opponents, including Florida State and Liberty.
Lions Lead Conference in Key Stats
North Alabama currently leads the conference in hitting percentage at .251. They also top the UAC in kills per set with 13.12. Assists per set stand at 12.39, another conference-leading mark. These numbers reflect a team that controls the tempo of the game.
Wildcats Ride Three-Game Winning Streak
Abilene Christian arrives with an 8-4 record and a three-match win streak. They rank second in the UAC in assists and kills per set. Hannah Gonzalez, a Preseason All-UAC selection, leads their attack. She has recorded 120 kills in 12 games with a .339 hitting percentage.
Individual Performers Drive the Offense
Reese Ricketts leads the UAC in kills per set, averaging 3.50. She has totaled 140 kills this season. Kinslee McGowan tops the conference in assists per set with 10.03. Ava Martindale leads the team in digs, averaging 4.85 per set. Their combined efforts keep the Lions competitive.
