UM Hosts And Wins Opening Round Match

MOBILE, Ala—The University of Mobile volleyball team disposed of visiting Webber International 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 30-28) in Saturday’s NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round match at the University of Mobile campus.

 

The Lady Rams set the tone with a dominant opening set, and then held off the feisty Lady Warriors in the final two sets for the straight-set victory.

 

In that opening set, the teams were locked up 4-4, and then Mobile surged ahead 14-2 to take command of the set 18-6. The Lady Rams featured a potent offense in the run, with 9 kills, and used a balanced offense, with 5 different players recording a kill to start the run. The 25-12 margin at the close was the largest lead in the set.

 

Set number two saw Mobile clinging to a 9-8 lead, before three Kelly Sherling kills sparked a quick 5-0 run to go ahead 13-8, before Webber battled back for a 15-15 tie. The Lady Rams then used a 7-2 run to gain some separation and hold on for the victory.

 

The final set was a thriller that had the fans on their feet for a dramatic end. After Mobile started out with a 4-0 lead and looked like they would finish it off with ease, Webber brought it to a tie, and the teams battled back and forth from there.

 

Tied 23-23, Syretta Baldwin put Mobile one point away from the victory with a kill, but the teams traded points until it was 28-28. DeCreisha Arrington hammered down a kill for a 29-28 lead, and then the final saw 19 rallies before a Webber attack error ended the set and the match in Mobile’s favor.

 

Kelly Sherling and Syretta Baldwin led the way for Mobile with 10 kills apiece, hitting .500 and .429 respectively. Arrington hit .500 with 9 kills, and Paula Stilkey and Cassy Johnson finished with 8 kills each. Amber Presnell led with 16 digs and Nicole Stokes had 20 assists.