KENNER, La. - On Saturday, Feb. 11, the University of Mobile Beach Volleyball program began just the third season in program history, facing Loyola University (La.) in two matches on the road. Mobile, a member of the SUN Conference in beach volleyball, is led by third-year head coach Jon Campbell who is in his 19th year overall at the university. On a chilly Saturday in southern Louisiana, the Rams finished 1-1 against the Wolf Pack, claiming a 4-1 win in the first match of the day, while dropping the second match by the same score. Mobile opens the 2023 season at 1-1 after a 15-12 season last year.
Match One Recap - Mobile 4, Loyola 1
To open the season, the Rams won four of five matches played against Loyola, sweeping two. Mobile's top flight of twin sisters Aspen Adams and Layton Adams cruised in their first match of the season with a 2-0 win. They were followed by Lexi Gillette and Emily Osborne, the fifth-seed for Mobile, who also earned a 2-0 victory. Gillette and Osborne are two freshman in their first year with the program, while the Adams sisters are in their second season.
In the second flight, Abby Andrews and Brinkley Hearn earned a 2-1 victory, taking the final two sets after dropping set one. Meanwhile, Jordan Wood and Tatum Beech paired together for the Rams' fourth seed, defeating the Wolf Pack's pair, 2-1. Like Andrews and Hearn, Wood and Beech won the second and third sets to earn the victory.
Match Two Recap - Mobile 1, Loyola 4
In the second match of the day, the Wolf Pack managed revenge over Mobile, taking four of the five matches played. Mobile's lone win in the second match came in the fifth flight where Lexi Gillette and Emily Osborne once again swept the opposition. Gillette and Osborne dominated Loyola, winning 21-7, 21-5 in the second match.
Despite losses, Mobile avoided sweeps and forced three sets in each of the first four flights, with flight one of Aspen Adams and Layton Adams and flight four of Jordan Wood and Tatum Beech losing by just three points to the Wolf Pack.
Tournament Next Weekend
Now that the season-opening nerves are out of the way, the Rams will return to action with three matches next weekend in the Huntingdon College Beach Tournament in Montgomery, Ala. Mobile will face Spartanburg Methodist College in a scrimmage on Friday, Feb. 17, while facing Berry College and Huntingdon College the following day in regular season matches at 1:00 p.m. CT and 6:00 p.m. CT.
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.
