MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner (13-12, 9-4 SSAC) led at set point in both the first and third games of tonight's Southern States Athletic Conference battle against Mobile (20-6, 12-1 SSAC) here at Tine Davis Gym, but the Lady Eagles were unable to shut the door before the Rams could sneak ahead. The visitors took the match in straight sets 30-28, 25-22, 27-25.

Faulkner played its best volleyball of the season, but it wasn't enough to overpower the the league's top team despite bookending the match with a pair of extended-point sets.

Mobile flipped the tempo while trailing 24-22 in the opener and went on to claim the win after numerous back-and-forth rallies.

The Rams then controlled the second set throughout before the Lady Eagles again threatened deep in the final showdown. 

The home team trailed through the first 18 points before catapulting into a narrow lead and by 16-16 the bout looked much like the opener with both teams dishing out and taking blows. 

Faulkner finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel once again while holding serve with a 25-24 lead, but the Rams found traction and claimed the set and match.

Mobile head coach Jon Campbell doesn't waste timeouts and when he calls one, it's almost magical. Virtually every time Campbell stopped play to discuss problems or strategy moving forward, the Rams responded big.

As the scores would indicate, Mobile controlled every facet of of play. The visitors outhit Faulkner .183 to .145 and out-blocked the home team seven to six. The Rams registered 15 more kills than the Eagles in a match decided by seven points.

Mobile had three hitters with double-digit kills and was spearheaded by Hannah Wentland who had 11 while hitting .444 to lead the court.

Cassie Bailie resumed her post as a six-rotation outside hitter for Faulkner this evening and led the Lady Eagles on both sides of the ball. The junior had 20 digs and offered up nine kills, hitting .292.

Daijah Washington and Alysa Klassen each had six kills and tallied 15 digs and three total blocks, respectively.

Katie Musser had 16 assists and three digs on the back row side of the 5-2 system, while Krystalynn Leomiti added 13 assists, five kills and a pair of front row stops.

Libero Julianne Wilkes had 15 digs in the match.

Faulkner will next host Loyola in SSAC action Friday at 7 p.m.