MOBILE, Ala. - In front of a loud, sellout crowd in H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium on Tuesday, Oct. 12, the University of Mobile Volleyball team hosted conference rival William Carey University. Mobile and William Carey entered Tuesday's match tied for third in the conference standings, just a half game back from Blue Mountain College and Loyola University for first place. After falling to the Crusaders of William Carey back on Sept. 28 in Hattiesburg, Miss., Mobile came out Tuesday night and swept William Carey in straight sets, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21. Mobile's win came in front of a blackout-themed crowd which saw the majority of fans dress in all black.
With Tuesday's win over the Crusaders, the Rams have claimed sole possession of third place in the current conference standings. Mobile's conference record improves to 6-2, 0.5 games back from the Toppers of Blue Mountain and the Wolf Pack of Loyola who both have a 6-1 conference record. The Rams' overall record moves to 15-3 on the season with Tuesday's victory.
As a team, Mobile hit the ball great, recording a .273 team hitting percentage in the match with their best set coming in set one where they hit .333. After being inactive in Mobile's last match on Oct. 5, senior Rachel Hart returned to the court and was on fire in Tuesday's victory. Hart led the team with a stellar .611 hitting percentage while also leading the team with 11 kills and six blocks.
Mobile Head Coach Jon Campbell awarded Jordan Wood the start on Tuesday, replacing an absent Carli Rouse on the court who was listed as "unavailable" during pregame warmups. Wood made the most of her playing opportunity and finished tied for second on the team with nine kills while hitting .304. Hart and Wood's offensive production on Tuesday was much needed after Mobile was without Rouse, who is second on the team currently in total kills on the season.
Abby Andrews and Kiara Garrett also recorded nine kills a piece in the win. However, Andrews shined more on the defensive side on Tuesday, leading the team with 20 defensive digs in the match. The reigning SSAC Volleyball Setter of the Week Sarah Warren was second on the team with 10 digs and led Mobile with 26 assists. Freshman Tatum Beech recorded 18 total assists and made impressive diving digs when on the court. Beech finished with nine digs in the win.
The Rams and Crusaders both traded points back and forth throughout the majority of the match, but Mobile seemed to go on scoring streaks when sophomore Haley Jones checked in to serve for Mobile. The scoring streaks Mobile recorded throughout the match when Jones served seemed to be the deciding factor in each set win, leading Mobile to a sweep over their conference rival.
Mobile's next match comes on Saturday, Oct. 16 at home against Loyola University. The SSAC has tabbed Saturday's match as the SSAC Volleyball Match of the Week. If Mobile can defeat the Wolf Pack on Saturday, the Mobile will jump a half game up in the standings over Loyola. Loyola defeated Mobile in five sets in New Orleans, La. back on Oct. 2. This Saturday's match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT in Pharr Gymnasium.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
