H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM, MOBILE, Ala. - In the first match played inside Pharr Gymnasium during the 2023 season, the University of Mobile Volleyball team handed SUN Conference foe Webber International University (Fla.) a straight-set loss on Thursday evening, Aug. 24. The Mobile v. Webber International match on Thursday kicked off a busy weekend of volleyball inside the Pharr as five total teams will compete in 10 matches from Thursday through Saturday as part of the 2023 UM Volleyball Invitational.
For Mobile, the Rams improve to 3-2 on the young 2023 campaign, with two of the three wins coming in three-set fashion against SUN Conference opponents. Mobile is scheduled for three more matches on the week.
Match Recap: Rams Break Out the Brooms
In a very competitive first set against the Warriors of Webber International, WIU managed a consistent lead throughout much of the set. However, Mobile stormed back late and stole a 25-23 set victory after outscoring the Warriors 10-4 to close out the set. From there, Mobile rode a high from the set one comeback, leading for the majority of the second. Webber International did manage to tie the set 16-16 late, but the Rams answered with five-straight points. Eventually, the Rams finished set two with a 25-19 win.
In the third set, Mobile and the Warriors traded runs early until the Rams got hot and tallied eight-straight rally wins to go up, 14-7. The huge run by Mobile proved to be too much for WIU in the end despite answering with six-straight points of their own. Later, Webber International once again managed to tie the set after a run, but the Rams again answered, ending set three by scoring five-straight points. Set three ended in favor of Mobile 25-20, with the Rams earning the win and sweep.
Consistent offense was hard to come by for both teams as Mobile ended the match with a .156 hitting percentage and WIU hitting just .135. The Rams came away with 36 kills on 90 attempts, led individually by Kendel Lee Frazer with 11. Frazer led the Rams by hitting .412 on the night.
Junior setter Layton Adams tallied 10 kills on a .353 hitting line, while also recording 13 assists and 10 digs. Tatum Beech led Mobile with 16 assists on the night and Lexi Gillette finished with a team-high 13 defensive digs on the back line.
Set for Two Matches on Friday
On Friday in Pharr Gymnasium, Mobile will battle two non-conference opponents throughout the day. The Rams are scheduled to face Dillard University (La.) at 12:00 p.m. CT, and will follow that match with a 4:00 p.m. CT matchup against Florida College. All matches of the 2023 UM Invitational will be broadcasted live 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.
