UNA volleyball draws record crowd for Bama match, recognizes pioneer of women’s sports

FLORENCE – On a day recognizing a trailblazer in women’s athletics in the state, the University of North Alabama volleyball team blazed a trail of its own, setting an attendance record in a match against the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

North Alabama (5-5) welcomed 2,106 fans Sunday afternoon inside CB&S Bank Arena, as the Lions fell 3-1 to Alabama. The previous attendance record was set in 2015 with 935 fans against West Georgia.

The matchup capped the Noona Kennard Volleyball Tournament, named after Alabama Sports Hall of Famer and women’s athletics pioneer Noona Kennard. Kennard spent 37 years in education, helping introduce volleyball and other sports to women in the state.

For more than a decade, Kennard organized independent teams until girls’ high school sports were officially recognized in Alabama. In 1971, she led Bradshaw High School to the first AHSAA state volleyball championship.

Kennard coached Bradshaw to nine state championships as a coach, including seven volleyball titles and two track and field titles. She was welcomed to center court with a standing ovation from the soldout crowd prior to the match. 

The 1975 UNA volleyball team was also honored pregame – that team won the AAIAW State Championship with a win over Alabama.

Game on

The Lions started fast by taking the first set, but the Crimson Tide answered with a close second-set victory. Alabama took another close win in set three, with the Crimson Tide fending off a UNA rally to take the set and match in the fourth frame.

Junior Kendall Barnes paced North Alabama with 12 kills. Sophomore Kinslee McGowan led the team with 36 assists and 11 digs, while junior Olivia Fenoff and sophomore Reese Ricketts each recorded a leading two service aces. Freshman Jenna Kolosta added a match-high five blocks.

North Alabama will play in the Cougar Classic this weekend in Houston. The Lions are set to face McNeese State, Liberty, and host Houston.