WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The University of Mobile Indoor Volleyball program, led by 19th-year head coach Jon Campbell, kicked off the 2023 season on Friday, Aug. 18, participating in the Viper Sports Academy Classic hosted by Keiser University (Fla.) in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mobile began the season schedule with a tough matchup against the 13th-ranked Tigers of Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) and fell in straight sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15. Later in the day, the Rams looked to rebound from the earlier loss with a match against Ave Maria University (Fla.). However, the Gyrenes mounted a comeback against Mobile on Friday after the Rams took the first two sets of the match and squeezed out wins in the third, fourth, and fifth sets to win the match. Mobile falls to 0-2 to begin the year.
Match Recap: (13) Dakota Wesleyan 3, Mobile 0
In an early morning match on Friday, the Rams began the 2023 season against a nationally-ranked opponent in Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers opened the match with a 5-1 run over Mobile, eventually taking a 20-12 lead later in the first set. Mobile Head Coach Jon Campbell then used a timeout, which seemed to spark a rally for Mobile late. Out of the timeout, Mobile won five-straight rallies to cut the deficit to only three points. However, Dakota Wesleyan held their lead and ultimately earned the set one win by five points, 25-20.
In the second set, both teams traded runs and the lead several times after the Rams opened the set with a 4-1 run. Dakota Wesleyan's consistency proved to be too much in the end, however, earning a 25-21 set two win over Mobile. Down two sets, Mobile's upset bid began to fade as Dakota Wesleyan continued to ride momentum going into the third set. The Tigers opened the set on a hot streak, winning 10 of the first 12 rallies. The early set three deficit was too much for Mobile to overcome as the Tigers managed a sweep to hand the Rams the first loss of the 2023 campaign.
In the defeat, Mobile's offense hit just .171 as a unit, committing 16 attack errors and notching 36 total kills. Reigning SSAC Freshman of the Year Corrina Porch-Maxey led the way for Mobile on the offensive side, tallying a team-high 13 kills while hitting .355. The sophomore from Indianapolis, Ind. added a match-high five service aces in the loss. Meanwhile, Dakota Wesleyan hit a solid .304 with 45 team kills, seeing Ady Dwight lead the entire match with 18 individual kills.
In Mobile's 6-2 offense, setters Layton Adams and Tatum Beech combined for 29 assists, 15 from Adams and 14 from Beech. Defensively, Aspen Adams led Mobile with 16 defensive digs, while libero Lexi Gillette ended the match with 10 digs. Aleah Kennedy came away with five blocking assists and one solo block at the net.
Match Recap: Ave Maria 3, Mobile 2
Later on Friday afternoon, Mobile seemed to open the second match played on the day with a fresh mindset, claiming the first two sets over Ave Maria, 25-22, 26-24. Down two sets against the Rams, the Gyrenes relied on a strong third set to build confidence against Mobile. Ave Maria managed 25-16, 25-20 set victories across the third and fourth sets to force a match-deciding fifth set with the Rams.
In the final set, Ave Maria went on a 10-2 run in the fifth set that only goes to 15 points. Well-used timeouts helped Mobile rally, but like the earlier match played against Dakota Wesleyan, the deficit proved to be too much and the Gyrenes won in comeback fashion.
The Rams' attack percentage still sat below .200 overall in the loss to Ave Maria, but Corrina Porch-Maxey and junior Kendel Lee Frazer went off on the offensive side. Porch-Maxey notched 16 kills against the Gyrenes, second-most in her collegiate career, while Frazer tallied a career-high 15 kills off a .394 hitting percentage. Mobile ended the match with 61 total kills, committing 26 attack errors.
Layton Adams led Mobile with 28 assists and Aspen Adams led the Rams in digs with 18. Overall, Mobile recorded 51 assists and 89 digs as a team.
Viper Sports Academy Classic Continues on Saturday
Despite two losses to open the season, Mobile has a quick turnaround and is scheduled for two more matches in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Saturday, Aug. 19, facing Keiser University and Campbellsville University (Ky.). Mobile will kick off the tournament early in the morning against host-school Keiser at 8:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. CT, later battling Campbellsville at 11:00 a.m. CT to conclude the tournament.
All matches in this weekend's tournament in West Palm Beach are broadcasted for purchase HERE.
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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.
