MARIETTA, Ga. - The University of Mobile Volleyball team wrapped up the 2022 regular season over the weekend, playing two conference matches on the road and finishing 1-1. The Rams faced Talladega College in Talladega, Ala. on Friday night and managed a sweep over the Tornadoes, while dropping a four-set match to Life University in Marietta, Ga. the following afternoon. Following the 1-1 weekend, Mobile finishes the 2022 regular season with a 21-10 overall record and a 11-6 conference record.
Mobile Keeps Dega in Check
Mobile began the weekend with a 25-16, 25-22, 25-22 sweep over Talladega College Friday evening in Talladega, Ala., but had to fight off the Tornadoes in the final two sets. In both sets, the Tornadoes began with the lead, but struggled to played consistently enough as Mobile eventually took the lead and the sets.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams as Mobile finished with a .118 hitting line. Talladega hit .092 in the loss, committing 19 attack errors and 30 kills. For Mobile, the Rams finished with 33 kills and 18 attack errors on 127 attack attempts.
With two of head coach Jon Campbell's starters out of the lineup due to sickness, Kendel Lee Frazer and Aspen Adams were named starters for Mobile this weekend. Frazer, a sophomore outside hitter, filled in for Corrina Porch-Maxey and led the Rams with 10 kills in the victory over Talladega. For Adams, the sophomore made her return to the court on Friday after two months away with a nagging injury. Adams played the libero spot for the absent Lexi Gillette and collected a team-high 15 digs in the win. She made only two reception errors in the entire match. Adams' twin sister Layton Adams led Mobile with 13 assists on Friday.
Despite the win, head coach Jon Campbell is looking for more aggressive and consistent offense from his team as no player hit above .200 against Talladega. Following the win, Mobile traveled to Marietta, Ga. for a Saturday afternoon match against Life University.
Life Holds Off Mobile in Four
On Saturday afternoon, Life University handed Mobile a 21-25, 25-17, 17-25, 22-25 loss in four sets to end the regular season. Inconsistent offense and attack errors haunted the Rams on Saturday, as Mobile finished with a .160 hitting percentage. The Rams made 25 attack errors and tallied 49 kills. Life hit .220 against Mobile, committing just 13 attack errors.
Individually, Abby Andrews finished with a team-high 14 kills, while Layton Adams recorded 10. Additionally, Layton Adams led Mobile with 21 assists as Tatum Beech collected 20 assists. Aspen Adams led all players with 20 digs from the libero spot.
Three players on the Mobile roster hit well against the Running Eagles, however, as Jordan Wood, Brinkley Hearn and Aleah Kennedy all finished with a hitting mark above .290. Wood led all players by hitting .400 with seven kills, while Hearn hit .300 with six kills and Kennedy finished with six kills and a .294 mark. The three were responsible for 52 of Mobile's 150 attack attempts.
Following the defeat, head coach Jon Campbell met with his team for close to an hour in the locker room, looking for answers and adjustments ahead of the upcoming conference tournament.Â
SSAC Volleyball Championship Tournament on Tap
The 2022 SSAC Volleyball Championship Tournament will take place Nov. 10-12 at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., with Mobile earning the No. 4 seed in the tournament and being placed in Pool A with (1) Blue Mountain, (5) Faulkner, and (8) Middle Georgia State. The Rams are 4-2 this season against those three opponents, defeating all three at least once.
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2022 SSAC Volleyball Seeds
1. Blue Mountain (17-1)
2. William Carey (15-3)
3. Loyola (14-4)
4. Mobile (12-6)
5. Faulkner (10-8)
6. Life (9-9)
7. Talladega (5-13)
8. Middle Georgia (5-13)
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Pool Play
Pool A:Â #1 Blue Mountain, #4 Mobile, #5 Faulkner, #8 Middle Georgia
Pool B:Â #2 William Carey, #3 Loyola, #6 Life, #7 Talladega
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Pool play will take place Thursday and Friday, with the top two from each pool advancing to the semifinals Friday evening. The championship match will take place Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT.
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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.
