Life University Athletics

MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University athletics teams were nearly all in action over the weekend, as the men and women's basketball teams began their season with the men and women's soccer teams playing their final regular season matches. Below is a brief recap of each team and the performances this weekend.
 
Women's Volleyball
The women's volleyball team fell in both of its matches on the road this weekend. The team dropped a 3-1 decision at Cumberland University and a 3-0 loss to No. 6 nationally ranked Lindsey Wilson on Friday. 
 
Liz Mann led the way for the Running Eagles on a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs against the Phoenix. Marin Black totaled 20 digs as Taylor Parrish and Brie Montgomery each tallied 15 assists.
 
On Friday, Mary Zimmerman led the offense with seven kills as Black added 11 digs. Amber Harris recorded a team-high 12 assists as well. 
 
The women's volleyball team will host the University of Pikeville at 5 PM on Friday, November 2. The match will also be senior night for the group that will be graduating at the end of the year.
 
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team played a pair of games at Faulkner University to begin the 2018-19 season. The team fell to Talladega in the opener on Friday 95-69, however the team responded on Saturday to defeat Faulkner 79-59.
 
Tierra Tullis was the only Running Eagle to finish in double digits with 10 points as the team shot 24-for-74 from the field. Tierra Lindsey grabbed 10 boards and two assists. 
 
Saturday, four different players scored in double figures as Naomi House led the way with 17 points, five steals, five assists and four rebounds. Kiara Glenn added 11 along with Tullis with Maeisha Teasley scoring 10. A dominating 19-6 third quarter gave the team its first win of the year.
 
The women's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, October 30, when they host Fisk University for the home opener at 5 PM.
 
Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team also opened the 2018-19 season at the Chick-Fil-A Roadrunner Classic that was hosted by Dalton State. The team earned a pair of convincing wins with a 128-83 decision over Selma on Friday and a 99-86 win over Reinhardt on Saturday.
 
The Running Eagle offense came out on all cylinders with six different players finishing in double digits. Evan Milligan led the way with 28 points and seven boards as Connor Gamble finished 5-for-7 from behind the arc with 20. Mike White and Deven Dorsett added 17 as Dorsett finished with nine rebounds. Taevon Ashmeade picked up 16 with nine rebounds and a pair of steals with Jay Jay Simpson rounding things out on 13 points.
 
Saturday was no different offensively as the same six picked up double figures with Simpson leading the way on 21 points. He added three steals and was 7-for-9 from the floor. Milligan picked up 19 with eight rebounds and Dorsett finished with 18. Ashmeade tallied 14 with White just behind him at 13, and Gamble finished with 10.
 
The men's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, November 6, when they host Selma University in the home opener for the team at 7:30 PM.
 
Swimming
The men and women's swimming teams hosted Lindsey Wilson in the area for the lone home swim meet of the year. The men fell in the dual 496-436 and the women fell 686-218.
 
The men had seven first place finishes including the 200-medley relay to start off the meet. The women had four first place finishes including the 200-yard medley relay. Freshman Greta Gonzalez earned her first NAIA "A" cuts in the 200-yard free and the 100-yard fly. Victoria Acosta earned her sixth NAIA "A" cut this season in the 400-yard individual medley.
 
Head coach Patrick Sonsteng stated, "The Running Eagles swam exceptionally well this weekend. Collectively we earned six new NAIA "A" cuts and two "B" cuts in the meet. The momentum is building for our team as we approach our taper meet in December."
 
The swimming teams will return to action the weekend of November 16-17 as they travel to Sewanee, Tn. to compete in the Igloo Invitational.
 
Bowling
Both bowling teams were in action this weekend at the Brandon Burn Memorial Classic that took place Friday and Saturday. 
 
The women competed in their first tournament weekend and had to find chemistry with only five competing. Women's coach Christina Hollis was put to the task in her opening tournament as well with the four returners and one freshman. She was able to set a good pace once they were able to relax and fight their way from the bottom of the field.
 
Freshman Jessica Crowley found her rhythm early and began to bowl like an experienced returner. The team stayed persistent despite the early miscues and continued to grind away. The attitude of the women stayed positive and they were able to finish the tournament in 8th place out of 14 teams (7th for the Conference) averaging 163 for the weekend.
 
The men's team started well but it was as much of a grind as the women had. The team continued their struggle with closing frames, but the team performed well and worked hard.  "Sophomore Rodante Moorehead is our player of the week," stated coach Chris Hollis. "Rodante bowled the entire weekend and had a better strike and spare percentage rate than the rest of the team." The men's team finished in 8th place (6th for Conference) out of 16 teams average 181.
 
The bowling teams will return to action this weekend, November 3-4 with a pair of host events. The men will bowl Saturday and Sunday at Brunswick Zone Austell and the women will be at Bowlero on Delk Road both days. Both events will be USBC Tier 1 Events, which directly affect National Standings.
 
Men's Soccer
The men's soccer team closed out the regular season in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 double overtime loss to No. 8 nationally ranked Lindsey Wilson on Sunday.
 
The Running Eagles trailed the Blue Raiders 16-14 in total shots but led 7-4 in corner kicks. Thierry Jules scored both goals as Life U took an early 1-0 lead in the match. Lindsey Wilson led 2-1 late before Jules tied the match in the 71^stminute. Wessley Soronellas provided the assist. With just over a minute remaining in the second period of overtime, Lindsey Wilson scored the golden goal to earn the narrow 3-2 win over Life U.
 
The men's team finish the regular season 7-10-1 and 3-4 in conference play. They earn the fifth seed for the Mid-South Conference Tournament and will face No. 4 seed Cumberlands on Friday, November 2 at 7:30 PM in Bowling Green, Ky. The full bracket can be found here: Men's Soccer Bracket and the MSC Tournament Page can be found here: 2018 MSC Men's Soccer Tournament Page
 
Women's Soccer
The women's soccer team finished the regular season on the road with a 5-2 loss to No. 14 nationally ranked Lindsey Wilson on Sunday.
 
Life U totaled five saves in the match with ten shots. Lindsey Wilson struck first in the 25^thminute and led 1-0 at the half. The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second half, however Jasmine Turner and Wilma Moberg each scored to tie the game in the 60^thand 64^thminute. Lindsey Wilson finished the match with three unanswered goals to take the 5-2 victory.
 
The women's team finish the season with a program-best six wins. They will be the number five seed for the Mid-South Conference Tournament and will play Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 PM against No. 4 seed Campbellsville. The full bracket can be found here: Women's Soccer Bracket and the MSC Tournament Page can be found here: 2018 MSC Women's Soccer Tournament Page