ATLANTA (April 23, 2024) – The Atlantic Sun Conference announced their 2024 Academic All-ASUN team for beach volleyball Tuesday afternoon, with junior
Ryenne Gepford and graduates
Taylor Seney,
Paula Klemperer and
Mackenzie Martin all receiving the honor.
The Lions open the postseason with the most academic all-conference honors for a single season in program history. UNA Beach Volleyball earned three in 2023, with Klemperer, Martin and senior
Martha McLaurin all receiving the distinctions. It marked the first ASUN academic postseason award for Gepford and Seney, while Martin and Klemperer earn their second.
The 10-player list was voted on by the league's sports information directors and academic representatives.
The top-flight pair of Seney and Klemperer show excellence on the court and classroom, with both pursuing Master's degree in their respective fields. Klemperer is earning her MBA, while Seney is pursuing a Master's in Family and Community Services.
The two finished the regular season at 20-9, with all matches coming from the first flight. Seney and Klemperer began the season with six-straight wins, setting a program record with 16 consecutive wins dating back to April 8, 2023. Their early run of form also earned the ASUN's first two Pair of the Week awards on Feb. 28 and March 6, adding a third on April 17.
The pair finished with three ranked wins against the top flights of No. 7 LSU, No. 16 FAU and No. 20 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and the pair were victorious in UNA's first two Power Five wins in program history against Nebraska and Oregon. Klemperer celebrated a career milestone with Seney, earning her 75th career win in the victory over FAU on April 6.
Martin and Gepford make the list as UNA's primary third-flight pair. Martin is pursuing her Master's degree in Sport Management, while Gepford is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The pair wrapped up the regular season 18-6, going 2-0 from flight two and 16-6 from flight three. The two were instrumental in UNA's Power Five wins over Oregon and Nebraska, picking up respective wins from flights three and four. Martin and graduate
Kaitlyn Holbrook won from flight three against Oregon and Nebraska, while Gepford and McLaurin were victorious from court four.
Martin earned her 75th career win with Gepford in a victory over Mercer at the Blazer Beach Bash on April 13. They also finished with two ranked wins as a pair, beating the third flights in victories against No. 16 FAU and No. 20 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
UNA begins the postseason on Wednesday, April 24, in DeLand, Fla., taking on No. 5 EKU in the opening round at 10 a.m.
The rest of the postseason ASUN awards will be announced at 3 p.m. today.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Iris Fletcher, North Florida
Academic All-ASUN Team
Iris Fletcher, North Florida
Kelsey Mead, Austin Peay**
Kaitlyn Luebbers, FGCU
Anna Erickson, Jacksonville
Olivia Szyszkiewicz, Jacksonville
Ryenne Gepford, North Alabama
Paula Klemperer, North Alabama*
Mackenzie Martin, North Alabama*
Taylor Seney, North Alabama
Klea Sirois, Stetson
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