UM SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, MOBILE, Ala. - In the first and also final home matches of the 2023 season, the University of Mobile Beach Volleyball team grabbed two wins over conference rivals as part of the SUN Conference Northwest Pod Tournament in Mobile, Ala on Tuesday, Mar. 21. On the 2023 schedule, Mobile found just one date where the Rams played on the home sand, hosting Loyola University (La.) and William Carey (Miss.) in the process.
Mobile began the day with a morning matchup against Loyola, eventually earning a 4-1 victory for the team's fourth-straight win. The Rams are coming off a 3-0 showing in the SUN Conference Northeast Pod Tournament back on Mar. 10-11 in Cleveland, Ga. Following Mobile's win over Loyola, the Wolf Pack then faced William Carey to begin the afternoon hours. Loyola bounced back, eventually claiming a 3-2 win over the Crusaders of William Carey.
Following the Loyola versus William Carey match, the Rams then faced conference rival William Carey in the late afternoon hours and came away with an impressive 3-2 win over the seventh-ranked team in the nation, with the top flight being the decider of the entire match. Mobile finished the day with a 2-0 record, while Loyola went home with a 1-1 record in the tournament. No. 7 William Carey ended the day winless at 0-2 against two unranked teams.
Mobile 4, Loyola 1 - Recap
In Tuesday's first match, the lower seeds began the day as Mobile's fifth-seeded pair of Emma Todd and Veronica Makovey cruised to a 2-0 win, finishing with a final score of 21-16, 21-10. Following the first win of the day for Mobile, Jordan Wood and Tatum Beech also managed a 2-0 win over the Wolf Pack from the fourth flight, winning 21-19, 21-17. With the Rams up 2-0 early, Loyola managed to get into the win column with a three-set thriller in the third flight against Mobile's Danielle Pote and Haley Jones. In the third-seeded match, Loyola came back from being down 1-0 early and won the final two sets, with the final scores being 22-20, 13-21, 9-15.
Following the first three matches of the day, the match was decided between the top two flights of the lineups as Mobile had the 2-1 advantage. Mobile's top flight of twin sisters Aspen Adams and Layton Adams became the match clincher, coming away with a convincing 2-0 win at 21-14, 21-10 over Loyola's top seed. With the match already decided, Mobile's second flight of Abby Andrews and Brinkley Hearn then earned the Rams' fourth win of the match, defeating Loyola's second seed in three sets, 21-11, 19-21, 15-9.
The 4-1 win became a great confidence booster for Mobile to start the long day of matches.
Mobile 3, (7) William Carey 2 - Recap
Later in the afternoon, the Rams faced conference rival William Carey to conclude the SUN Conference Northwest Pod Tournament. Prior to the start of play, Mobile's two graduating seniors of Abby Andrews and Danielle Pote were recognized in front of friends and family for Senior Day. Once the Senior Day festivities concluded, the lower seeds of the starting lineups began play as Mobile took the first two matches across the fourth and fifth flights.
Mobile's No. 5 pair of Emma Todd and Veronica Makovey started the match with a three-set win over the Crusaders, earning a 21-17, 17-21, 15-6 victory. From Mobile's fourth flight, Jordan Wood and Tatum Beech found great success in Tuesday's tournament, again earning a 2-0 victory. Wood and Beech defeated William Carey's fourth seed, 21-16, 21-16, finishing the day by never losing a set in two matches played.
With Mobile claiming the first two matches, William Carey answered back with two wins of their own over Mobile across the second and third flights. In the third-seeded matchup, William Carey earned a 14-21, 21-17, 13-15 win over the Rams' third flight of Danielle Pote and Haley Jones. Later, William Carey managed a 2-0 victory of Mobile's No. 2 seed of Abby Andrews and Brinkley Hearn. With the match now tied 2-2, the match-clincher came between the No. 1 seeds of the lineups.
As the sun began to set, Mobile's top-seeded duo of Aspen Adams and Layton Adams began the matchup against William Carey's top pair of Kacey Lear and Rachel Hartmann with a 17-21 loss in the first set. After the set one victory, William Carey looked confident to eventually earn the match win over the Rams. However, the Adams sisters bounced back in the second set with a 21-16 victory, forcing a deciding third set. In the first-to-15 game, William Carey came out by claiming the first four points. Aspen Adams and Layton Adams then started a rally of their own and erased the deficit. Closing in on the end of the match, the Adams sisters' rally became too much as Mobile's top flight earned the 15-11 set three win and recorded a comeback victory to decide the match for Mobile in front of the home faithful.
Mobile Building Momentum with One Final Tournament Left
Across the last two SUN Conference tournaments, Mobile is 5-0, improving the overall record back to a .500 win percentage at 10-10. However, Mobile currently sits second in the SUN Conference standings with a 6-1 conference record, and is set compete in the SUN Conference Central Pod Tournament later this month.
In the SUN Conference Central Pod Tournament, the Rams will begin play against Warner University on Mar. 31, and the end the regular season with two matches on Apr. 1. On the final date of the regular season, Mobile will face Southeastern University and Webber International, who ranks atop of the current conference standings. The final tournament of the regular season is scheduled to be played in Babson Park, Fla.
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.
