MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team went toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the SSAC on Friday night but ultimately fell in straight sets (14-25, 13-25, 16-25) at Pharr Gym. The Firehawks showed grit and competitive spirit throughout the evening but could not overcome their opponent's balanced offensive attack and strong net play.
UT Southern (13-10, 7-8 SSAC) saw several standout performances despite the loss. Ashlee Kraft led the offense with 7 kills, adding an ace and 3 digs. Emma Beardsley matched her with 7 kills, added an ace, and recorded 2 block assists, totaling 9.0 points on the night. Setter Jelleny Mallozzi anchored the offense with 20 assists while chipping in 7 digs defensively. Isabella Garza led all Firehawks with 12 digs from the back row, while Amree Patterson provided 3 kills, 1 solo block, and 1 block assist for 4.5 points. Olivia Ward added 3 kills and a block assist, and Caity Griffin tallied a kill and a dig in the front row.
Firehawks Fight Through Early Pressure
The opening set began with the Firehawks on their heels, facing a quick deficit before Emma Beardsley put UTS on the board with a kill from Jelleny Mallozzi. Tennessee Southern began to find rhythm midway through the frame behind kills from Beardsley, Caity Griffin, and Amree Patterson, trimming into the margin. Mallozzi orchestrated several quality sets during the stretch, allowing UTS to tally consecutive points off a block by Beardsley and Olivia Ward and a service miscue by their opponent. Despite the push, the Rams' front line continued to apply pressure and took the first set, 25-14.
Consistent Ball Movement in Set Two
The second set saw Tennessee Southern show flashes of offensive rhythm with contributions across the court. Beardsley and Kraft each tallied multiple kills, while Ward and Patterson found success off quick sets from Mallozzi. The Firehawks fought back from an early 0-4 deficit, using defensive plays from Garza and Ashley Cope to extend rallies. UTS cut the margin to within six midway through after kills by Ward and Kraft, but consistent blocking and attack efficiency from the Rams helped them close out the frame, 25-13.
Late Rally Highlights Final Frame
The Firehawks saved their most competitive set for last. After falling behind early, UTS rallied to take its first lead of the night at 5-4 thanks to consecutive kills by Beardsley and an ace from Beardsley moments later. Kraft continued her strong offensive showing with several kills, including one following a long rally that drew loud applause from the visiting bench. Patterson added a kill and a block assist, while Ward connected on multiple swings down the stretch. The Firehawks pushed their opponent deep into rallies, but the Rams' offense proved too steady, closing out the match 25-16.
Team Set Statistics Comparison
| Category |
UT Southern |
Mobile |
| Kills |
23 |
42 |
| Errors |
23 |
15 |
| Total Attacks |
99 |
98 |
| Hitting % |
-.020 |
.276 |
| Assists |
21 |
36 |
| Service Aces |
2 |
3 |
| Service Errors |
5 |
3 |
| Reception Errors |
3 |
2 |
| Digs |
34 |
52 |
| Blocks (Solo + Assist) |
3.0 (1 BS, 4 BA) |
8.5 (1 BS, 15 BA) |
| Points |
26.0 |
53.5 |
Tennessee Southern falls to 13-10 overall and 7-8 in SSAC play with one regular-season match remaining. The Firehawks will wrap up conference play on Saturday, November 8, traveling to Faulkner University to close out the regular season before shifting focus to the upcoming SSAC Tournament.
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