MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The University of Mobile Volleyball team began pool play of the SSAC Volleyball Championship Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 10, and ended the day with a 1-1 record, sweeping the Knights of Middle Georgia State to start the day, and eventually falling victim of a sweep to the top-seeded Toppers of Blue Mountain College on Thursday evening. Mobile, who came into the conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, is set to play one final pool match tomorrow with a trip to the semifinals on the line.
Mobile Earns Sweep to Start Postseason
In the Rams' first match of the 2022 postseason, Mobile came away with 25-15, 25-16, 25-12 victory over Middle Georgia State. The Rams' offense shined in the win, hitting over .300 in the process as a team. In sets one and three, Mobile hit .333, while hitting .267 in the second set. Meanwhile, Middle Georgia State recorded a negative hitting line at -.012.
Mobile was led by senior Abby Andrews and freshman Corrina Porch-Maxey, who have both consistently led the Rams in offense during the 2022 season. Andrews showed out with a match-high 13 kills, while hitting .333, and Porch-Maxey finished with seven kills at a .600 hitting mark. Porch-Maxey was named the SSAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year yesterday, and Andrews earned a SSAC Volleyball First-Team All-Conference selection for the first time of her collegiate career.
Tatum Beech and Layton Adams led Mobile in the assists category, with Beech tallying a match-high 19 assists. Adams finished with 15 assists, while recording five kills. On the defensive side, Lexi Gillette led Mobile with 12 digs and Madison Bergeron finished the match with 10 digs.
Following the win, Mobile stuck around the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery, Ala., and scouted their next competition of Blue Mountain College.
Rams Stumble Against Blue Mountain
Later on Thursday afternoon, the conference's top seed of Blue Mountain managed to sweep Mobile 25-16, 25-18, 25-12, guaranteeing the Toppers a spot in the semifinals after a 2-0 day.
In the loss, Mobile's offense could not get things going as the team only managed a .020 hitting line. The Rams recorded 27 kills and 25 attack errors on 102 attempts. Meanwhile, Blue Mountain came away with a .267 hitting percentage, tallying 38 kills.
In the loss, Aleah Kennedy was the only Ram to hit above .200, but finished with just three kills. Abby Andrews once again led Mobile in offense, finishing the match with seven kills. Andrews also tallied a team-high nine digs.
After Mobile's 1-1 day, the overall record moves to 22-11.
Mobile v. Faulkner for Semifinal Spot
Mobile's next match on the schedule proves to be the most important one as it will determine if the 2022 season carries on or ends. The Rams will face Faulkner at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 11, with the winner advancing to the semifinals of the SSAC Volleyball Championship Tournament.
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.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
