FLORENCE, Ala. – The Lipscomb University volleyball team rallied from a slow opening set to defeat the University of North Alabama in four sets, Sunday afternoon from CB&S Bank Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, North Alabama 1 (23-25, 25-9, 25-21, 25-22)
Location: Florence, Alabama (CB&S Bank Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (16-10, 13-2), North Alabama (15-12, 9-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set went back-and-forth. Lipscomb was ahead 15-13 at the media timeout, but four straight kills by Katy Floyd gave the Lions the 18-16 lead. The Bisons would rally to make it a 24-23 score after Courtney Jones's kill, but a LUV attack error gave UNA the opening set win, 25-23. 

Lipscomb came out strong in the set. Down 2-1 early a Courtny Jones kill started a 21-5 run en route to a 25-9 victory. In the second set, the Bisons put together 11 kills and did not commit an error in 20 swings. 

UNA, after posting 18 kills on 37 attacks with one error for a .459 mark in the opening set, was shut down in set two by the Bisons. On 30 total swings, the Lions posted six kills and committed nine errors at the net. 

The third stanza saw the Bisons rally from an early 5-3 deficit to take set 25-21. Trailing 15-13, UNA saw its deficit drop to one, 17-16, thanks to kills by Floyd. Following a timeout, the Bisons restored order with a Lions service error and kills by Meg Mersman and Jones. 

The Bisons got to set point on a UNA attack error, and it took time for the visitors to clinch the point. Two attack errors and a Lions ace forced LUV to burn a timeout. That would work, as Addi Pelham ended the set with a kill to put Lipscomb ahead 2-1 with a 25-21 victory. 

North Alabama tried to force a fifth set with strong play in the fourth, evening the set at 15 a piece from a Floyd spike, but the Bisons responded from there, going on a mini 5-2 run thanks to back-to-back kills by Jones and Pelham. 

The Lions cut the deficit to 23-22, but a Mersman kill and an attack error by the Lions sealed the deal for the Bisons, winning the match with a 25-22 fourth set victory.

After posting a side out percentage of 62% in the opening set, the Bisons maintained possession of the ball for the rest of the match, going 72% the rest of the way. In set number two, the Bisons went 8-of-10 in side outs. 

QUOTABLE
Hear Brandon Rosenthal's thoughts after the Bisons' win over UNA.
KEY STATISTICS
Four Bisons posted double figures in the kill column on Sunday. Courtney Jones led the charge with 15 kills and committed three attack errors on 35 swings for a .343 swing percentage. She nearly missed a double-double with nine digs. 

Addi Pelham posted 12 kills and a .346 attack percentage, while Karlie McNabb posted a double-double with 12 kills of her own and added a team-high 12 digs and three aces. 

Meg Mersman dropped 11 kills on 23 swings, committing two errors, and adding three total blocks, including two solos. 

Libby Steinhart added 11 digs, while Sophia Hudepohl posted 50 assists and 11 digs for her 10th double-double of the year and the 29th of her career. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb increased its overall winning streak to six matches, setting a new season-high. 

The road success continued on Sunday, as the Bisons are now 7-0 in ASUN matches away from Allen Arena. 

LUV hit .310 on the afternoon, posting 54 kills and committing just 15 attack errors. This marked the 11th time the program hit .300 or better this season.

UP NEXT
The Bisons conclude the regular season with a trip to West Georgia on Saturday for a noon EST start.