TAVARES, Fla. - The University of Mobile Beach Volleyball team began play in the 2024 AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Tournament on Friday, Apr. 12, competing in two matches across pool play against NAIA opponents.
Mobile opened the tournament in central Florida with an early morning matchup against Ottawa University (Kan.), eventually defeating the Braves, 3-1. The Rams collected wins across the top two flights in the lineup, while earning a win in the fourth-seeded match to secure the victory.
Jordan Wood and Emma Todd grabbed Mobile's first win of the morning with a three-set comeback victory in the fourth flight, defeating the Braves' fourth-seeded pair, 17-21, 21-12, 15-6. Later in the match, twin sisters Aspen Adams and Layton Adams also earned a three-set comeback, winning from the second flight, 14-21, 22-20, 15-11. Lexi Gillette and Dazsha Dean recorded Mobile's lone shutout across the first match of the tournament, winning 21-18, 21-11 in the top-seeded match. Ottawa's lone win against the Rams came via a 21-15, 21-19 victory in the fifth seed.
Later, Mobile faced Warner University (Fla.) in the second match played on Friday morning, shutting out the Royals, 3-0. Only three matches finished, with the Rams earning sweeps in all three played. From the fourth-seeded match, Jordan Wood and Emma Todd improved to 2-0 on the day following a 21-13, 21-12 win, while Emma Hampton and Gabby Sheffield collected a 21-17, 21-18 win from the third flight in the lineup. Mobile clinched the match in the second flight as Aspen Adams and Layton Adams notched a 21-16, 21-13 for the pair's second win of the day.
Mobile's 2-0 start to this year's AVCA Small College Beach Tournament advances the Rams to the semifinals on Saturday morning, with Mobile scheduled to face the winner of the Truett McConnell (Ga.) v. St. Andrews (N.C) match at 9:10 a.m. CT on Apr. 13. The Rams enter the semifinals with an 11-12 overall record on the 2024 season.
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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.
