FLORENCE, Ala. — The Central Arkansas volleyball team (2-12, 2-2) dropped a conference decision to North Alabama (13-4, 3-1) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon, falling by scores of 18-25, 25-21, 25-27 and 20-25.
Kennady Martindale tied her career high in kills for the third time in a week, leading the Sugar Bears with 16 kills and hitting .333.
Ella Chaney picked up her fourth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 15 digs in the match.
Central Arkansas opened the first set with a 6-2 lead behind early Martindale kills, two blocks and an
Olivia Kremer ace. North Alabama answered with a 9-1 run to take an 11-7 lead. The Lions kept the Sugar Bears at arm's length taking, the set 25-18.
In the second set, Central Arkansas separated with a seven-point run to take a commanding 17-8 lead.
McKinzee Haas served six straight points in that stretch, capping it off with an ace, while Chaney and
Greyson Button added kills and combined on a block. North Alabama would cut the lead to 17-14, on a 6-0 run of their own, but Central Arkansas closed out the set 25-21.
The third set went to extra points, with Central Arkansas tying it at 24-24 and again at 25-25 before the Lions scored the final two points for a 27-25 set win. Earlier, Central Arkansas turned a 4-3 deficit into an 8-5 lead, helped by a
Tatelyn Brandsma-
McKinzee Haas block and a Brandsma kill. Button and Martindale contributed late kills as the Sugar Bears stayed within reach down the stretch.
After falling behind 15-10 in the fourth set, Central Arkansas made its main push on a couple North Alabama errors and a
Greyson Button kill to pull within two at 16-14. UNA answered by moving back ahead 19-14, and Central Arkansas could not get closer than three the rest of the set. North Alabama would take the fourth set 25-20, and the match 3-1.
Ella Chaney
- 15 kills
- 15 digs
- 3 blocks, including 1 solo
- 17 points
Kennady Martindale
- Tied career high 16 kills on .333 hitting
- 16.5 points
- 1 block
Tatelyn Brandsma
- 27 assists
- 9 digs
- 3 kills on .750 hitting
Greyson Button
- 11 kills on .333 hitting
- 2 blocks
- 12 points
Olivia Kremer
- 13 digs
- 2 service aces
Up next, the Sugar Bears wrap up the road trip with a match in Stephenville, Texas against Tarleton State at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8.
