FLORENCE – Six University of North Alabama softball players combined for eight Atlantic Sun Conference postseason awards.
Junior pitcher Alivia Wilken and senior shortstop Haven Kirby headlined the awards for UNA, earning first team honors. Freshman Briley Dover received both second team and all-freshman honors, while senior outfielder Felicity Frame joined her on the second team.
Rounding out UNA’s postseason selections is junior second baseman Hailey Jones on the all-conference third team. Jones also landed third team honors last season. She and Sidney Bevis were also awarded Academic All-ASUN honors.
Academic All-ASUN team is voted on by the league’s sports information directors and academic representatives. Requirements include a cumulative 3.50 GPA or higher, participating in 50 percent or more games, completing four semesters of coursework, and one year of residence at their respective institutions.
The Lions begin their quest for an ASUN title today at 5:30 p.m. against Austin Peay in a single-elimination game at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.
Beach volleyball honors
Four UNA beach volleyball players were named to the Academic All-ASUN team for 2024, with junior Ryenne Gepford and graduates Taylor Seney, Paula Klemperer and Mackenzie Martin receiving the honor.
North Alabama went 22-13 overall and 5-3 in the ASUN, finishing with the program record for wins in a single season.
Other ASUN postseason awards included two first team All-ASUN pairs and UNA head coach Kaleb VanDePerre as ASUN Coach of the Year.
Graduates Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney earned their second-straight ASUN first team selection, while junior Katy Floyd and sophomore Selma Robinson won their first career postseason honors. VanDePerre also earned his first conference postseason award in his second season at UNA.
