UM Wins Opening Round Match

MOBILE, Ala-- The University of Mobile volleyball team defeated Savanna College of Art and Design 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15) Saturday in a NAIA National Championship Opening Round Match at Pharr Gym.

The Lady Rams (25-11) advance to Sioux City, Iowa to join 23 other teams at the final site of the NAIA National Championship presented by Siouxland Sports Medicine Foundation.

McGill-Toolen product Sarah Scott finished with 12 kills, 5 aces and 10 digs for Mobile, Whitney Knight added 11 kills and 10 digs, and Paula Stilkey finished with 10 kills. Melody Tenney had 29 assists for the Lady Rams.

Courtney Shelton had a team-high 10 kills for SCAD, while Jen Drouin finished with 11 digs.

SCAD was up 4-3 early in the opening set, but the Lady Rams rallied with an 11-2 run to take a 14-6 lead. SCAD pulled within 17-15, but the Lady Rams took the next three points and held on to win.

The second set saw Mobile answer a 7-5 deficit with an 8-2 run to take a 13-9 lead. SCAD fought back to tie it up 19-19, but the Lady Rams took the final six points for the win.

The third set was back-and-forth throughout until the Bees took seven of the final nine points for the 25-18 win. Mobile had 6 service errors in the set.

Mobile took control of the final set early, but answering a 4-3 deficit with a 7-1 run for a 10-5 lead. Then, up 12-9, the Lady Rams went on a 6-0 spurt to take control and cruised from there.

It's Mobile's third straight year to go to the NAIA National Championship.