MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Fifth-seeded UT Southern opened SSAC Championship Pool Play with a competitive four–set effort against top-seeded No. 22 Mobile, followed by a composed sweep of eighth-seeded Faulkner later in the afternoon. With the pool standings tightening, the Firehawks' final match on Friday against Blue Mountain Christian will decide who earns the last semifinal spot.
Match 1: #22 Mobile def. UT Southern, 3–1
Set scores: 23–25, 25–20, 25–21, 25–18
UT Southern landed the first blow of the day by stealing the opening set from the nationally ranked Rams. After falling behind 2–0, the Firehawks surged ahead 5–2 thanks to kills from Patterson, Norris, and Mallozzi's early rhythm distribution. The teams traded runs throughout the frame, but UT Southern took command late with back-to-back defensive stops from Ward and Norris, and Patterson ended the set with a kill to secure the 25–23 win.
In set two, Mallozzi's serving run handed UTS a 4–0 start—including two aces—but Mobile responded with steady offense and eventually claimed the lead midway through. Kraft and Patterson kept the Firehawks close, but the Rams' consistency carried them to a 25–20 win.
Set three showcased UT Southern's resilience. Down 10–5, the Firehawks stormed back behind a Garza ace and strong swings from Kraft and Ward to tie the frame. Beardsley's mid-set production helped UTS stay within reach, but Mobile edged out the final points for a 25–21 decision.
The fourth set opened favorably for UTS at 3–0, but Mobile's 11–3 run flipped the momentum for good. Norris and Kraft continued finding kills, yet the Rams maintained separation and closed the match with a 25–18 result.
UT Southern Leaders vs. Mobile
Full Set-by-Set Team Stats – UT Southern vs. Mobile
| Team |
Set 1 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Set 2 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Set 3 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Set 4 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Match Total |
| UT Southern |
19-3-42 (.381) |
13-4-28 (.321) |
12-4-41 (.195) |
8-9-30 (-.033) |
52-20-141 (.227) |
| Mobile |
17-4-44 (.295) |
13-3-24 (.417) |
13-5-33 (.242) |
14-8-28 (.214) |
57-20-129 (.287) |
Match 2: UT Southern def. Faulkner, 3–0
Set scores: 25–22, 25–23, 25–18
The Firehawks shook off the morning loss by piecing together a poised sweep of Faulkner. The opening set initially tilted heavily in the Eagles' favor as UT Southern fell behind 11–4. A timeout settled the Firehawks, and from there they unleashed one of their best stretches of the day—kills from Kraft and Norris, aces from Ward, and a timely Beardsley ace erased the gap and tied the frame at 18. UT Southern punctuated an 11–4 finishing surge with a Beardsley kill to take the set 25–22.
Set two was another tight battle. After falling behind 6–5, UTS answered with a 5–0 run highlighted by Patterson and Norris, plus multiple Faulkner errors. The Eagles rallied to tie the frame at 20, but Kraft broke the stalemate with a kill, and another late push closed the set 25–23.
In the third, UT Southern steadily wore down Faulkner. Beardsley's ace and Norris' early swings built a small cushion, and the Firehawks extended their lead through disciplined blocking from Patterson and Mallozzi. Late kills from Kraft and Ward helped lock in the 25–18 sweep.
UT Southern Leaders vs. Faulkner
Full Set-by-Set Team Stats – UT Southern vs. Faulkner
| Team |
Set 1 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Set 2 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Set 3 K-E-TA (Pct) |
Match Total |
| UT Southern |
14-6-40 (.200) |
14-7-36 (.194) |
11-7-30 (.133) |
39-20-106 (.179) |
| Faulkner |
13-5-42 (.190) |
12-9-36 (.083) |
9-9-27 (.000) |
34-23-105 (.105) |
Next Up
UT Southern returns to Pool Play action on Friday, November 14 at 1:30 p.m. against fourth-seeded Blue Mountain Christian. The winner advances to the SSAC Semifinals.
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