MOBILE, Ala. - After arguably one of the worst matches played this season last Saturday for the University of Mobile Volleyball team, the Rams bounced right back just three days later with a non-conference sweep over Dillard University in Pharr Gymnasium on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Mobile fell to Loyola University in Pharr Gymnasium on Saturday, Oct. 16 in four sets after committing over 55 total errors in the match. However, Mobile managed to decrease the number of errors on Tuesday and defeat the Bleu Devils of Dillard in straight sets, 29-27, 25-16, 25-17.
Entering Tuesday, Mobile and Dillard have met a total of 28 times throughout their history with the Rams putting in a stellar 27-0-1 overall record against Dillard, winning their last 15 matches. In search for their first win in program history over Mobile, Dillard entered Tuesday's match with a 12-3 overall record and made the Rams work in set one.
Both teams traded offensive runs and timeouts taken in the first set to start the night. Twice Mobile went on 7-0 runs throughout the first set, forcing Dillard to use both of their timeouts in the set. Dillard also managed their own offensive runs in the first set, recording two separate 5-0 runs that forced Mobile Head Coach Jon Campbell to burn his two timeouts. After a grueling first set that went to extra points, Mobile managed to come out on top, 29-27.
Following a tough set one, both teams again traded offensive runs in the beginning parts of both set two and set three. However in both sets, Mobile's consistency was too much for Dillard and the Rams managed to win in straight sets for the match victory.
True freshman Kiara Garrett led the way for Mobile on the offensive side, turning in one of her best performances of the season. Garrett finished with a team-high nine kills while recording a .318 hitting percentage. Garrett's hitting percentage was also the highest on the team with a minimum of 15 attack attempts as she continues her strong start to her collegiate volleyball career. Aleah Kennedy's .400 hitting percentage on the night was the highest for Mobile in the box score. Kennedy finished with four kills in 10 attempts.
As a team, Mobile only hit .218 on the night, committing 13 attack errors in 108 attempts. The Rams managed 36 kills as a team. Through 20 matches played on the year, Mobile is averaging 12.34 kills per set while tallying a team .199 hitting percentage. Consistent hitting and passing is what Mobile continues to work on throughout the week in practices.
Mobile did see great success from the service line on Tuesday night, where the Rams tallied 14 total service aces in the match victory. Abby Andrews tallied a team-high five aces and Haley Jones managed four aces. Jones continues to be one of Mobile's most consistent servers in recent weeks. Setters Tatum Beech and Sarah Warren also recorded multiple aces on Tuesday with Beech recording three and Warren notching two. As a team, Mobile averages 1.88 services aces per set on the year.
Warren led the way for Mobile with 19 assists in the win and Beech managed 15 total assists. Only three setting errors were called on Mobile throughout the night. On the defensive side, the Rams were led by Madison Bergeron who recorded a team-best 12 defensive digs, including several impressive diving digs off Dillard blocks at the net. Libero Melea Meadows finished with 11 digs, second most on the team.
Following the non-conference win on Tuesday, Mobile's overall season record improves to 16-4 as the Rams will return to conference action at home this weekend. Mobile will host a talented Blue Mountain College on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:00 p.m. CT in Pharr Gymnasium. Blue Mountain currently sits in a tie for first place with Loyola University in the SSAC Volleyball standings. Mobile currently sits in a tie for third place. Mobile defeated Blue Mountain in five sets on the road back on Sept. 24. The following day, Mobile will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 23 as the Rams host Talladega College for a 1:00 p.m. CT match.
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.
